THE    CONTEST: 


A    POEM. 


By    GKKORG-E    IP. 

..  .     U 


CHIC-A-G-O : 
P.  L.  HANSCOM,  PuBLiSHEii. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1866,  by 

P.   L.  HANSCOX, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  State*, 
for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois. 


Printed  bv  P.  L.  HANBCOM, 

Book  4  Job  Printer, 
134  Df.«rborn  Street.  Chicago,  111. 


PS 

1 

C 


To  EUGEJfE  £.   CJtfffi, 

Jlfaj  or- General  United  States  Volunteers,  and  Brevet  Colonel 
5th   United  States  Cavalry,  this  volume  is 
respectfully  dedicated  by   ' 


550018 


THE    CONTEST. 


CANTO     FIRST. 


Goddess  of  ancient  fame  !     Thou  who  did'st  teach 
Thine  infant  Orpheus  the  enchanting  strains, 
Which,  penetrating  rocks  and  trees,  did  reach 
Their  inmost  parts, ~and  breathed  thro'  their  dull  veins 
The  force  of  motion  !     Still  thy  power  maintains, 
Unharmed,  undimmed  by  age,  its  former  sway 
O'er  human  hearts,  and  thy  blest  influence  reigns, 
The  ills  of  earth  and  fortune  to  allay, 
And  breathe  the  power  of  song  thro'  our  aspiring 
clay. 


Child  of  Mnemosyne!     Tliy  footsteps  roam 

Far  from  thy  place  of  birth.      Lot  not  thy  feet 

Tread  the  bright  vales  that  guard  thy  native  homo, 

Till  all  earth's  conquered  nations  shall  complete 

The  grandeur  of  thy  triumph.     Sad  and  sweet 

Thy  numbers  \vakM  the  vales  of  Italy  ; 

And  Albion's  sons  \vith  song  thy  coming  greet  ; 

Wilt  thou  not,  too,  Columbia's  patron  be, 

And  cheer  with  thy  glad  songs  the  land  of  Liberty  V 

iii. 

\Ve  otter  thoo  a  land  of  fruits  and  flowers. 
Of  hills,  vales, .mountains,  forests,  lakes,  and  streams, 
And  birds  of  beauty,  in  elysian  bowers, 
Shall  sing  thro  to  sweet  slumber,  and  thy  dreams 
.Shall   bring   from   thoughts'   dark    caves    the   gems 

whose  gleams 

Arc  brightest,  and  from  gardens  of  the  past 
Cull  rarest  flowers:  the  while  thy  future  beams 
Crowned  with  bright  laurels,  and  the  formless  vast 
Changed    at  thy  touch,  shall  be  in  shapes  of  beauty 


1   1 1  K      CO  N  T  i:  S  1  . 


I  sing  the  loan,  who,  in  this  latter  time, 
Rivalled  the  virtues  of  an  earlier  age : 
Abraham  Lincoln,  ami  his  deeds  sublime, 
Shall  stand  emblazoned  upon  history's  page, 
With  earth's  most  mighty  heroes.     He  to  wage 
War  tor  a  nation's  safety  was  foredoomed, 
And  gave  his  life  an  offering,  to  assuage 
The  wrath  of  Heaven.    While  now  he  lies  entombed, 
Shrouded  'neath  Fate's    dark   veil,  the    nation    sits 
engloomed. 

v. 

Horn  in  the  Western  wilds,  Ids  early  life 
Was  passed  'mid  scenes  of  rural  industry ; 
His  youth,  ambitious,  joined  the  arduous  strife 
Where  heroes  seek  the  wreaths  of  victory  : 
His  manhood  dared  the  slippery  paths  to  try 
Where  Fame's  proud  vot'ries  seek  her  temple  high, 
And  gained  its  portals  :  thence  triumphantly 
His  name,  on  Death's  dark  wings,  soared  to  the  sky. 
And  shines  a  .planet  fixed,  whose  brilliance  shall  not 
die. 


T  II  K      C  O  X  T  K  S  I' . 


Called  to  the  Chair  of  State  when  treason's  seed, 
Sprung  from  the  truitful  soil  in  blades  of  steel, 
Threatened  the  nation's  life  ;  he  was  decreed 
By  (rod,  and  by  a  nation's  stern  appeal, 
T'  uproot  the  noxious  weeds,  and  to  reveal 
Her  growth,  triumphant  o'er  the  deadly  shade 
Threatening  to  hide  her  lovely  form.     His  heel 
Crushed  the  foul  serpent,  and,  by  Heaven's  aid, 
His  j >ower  the  storms  of  war  in  gentle  peace  allayed. 

VII. 

His  was  the  genius,  his  the  cunning  art 

That  raised  the  vast  machinery  of  war, 

And,  when  completed  in  its  every  part, 

Made  the  grand  structure  his  triumphal  car 

To  ride  to  victory.     He  hurled  afar 

The  swift  avenging  bolt,  whose  deadly  blow 

Blasted  the  upas  tree.     He  was  the  star 

Who  ruled  men's  destinies,  and,  to  and  fro, 

The  puppets  of  his   will,  his  chieftains  come   and 


'-co. 


THE      rON'TKST. 


As  Jove,  enthroned  upon  Olympus  high, 
Rules  the  obedient  heavens  in  majesty, 
Calm  and  unruffled,  while  the  lower  sky. 
Moaning  in  pain,  and  tossing  fretfully, 
Gives  birth  to  Tempest,  child  o'  th'  wind ;  so  he 
Guided  war's  storms;  as  calm,  when,  by  their  hoarse 
And  taunting  voices  vexed,  the  hostile  sea 
Threatened  to  whelm  the  Capitol  by  its  force,  , 

As   when,  abashed    in   fear,  it  rolled  its  backward 
course. 


Though  not  apparent  in  each  shifting  scene 
That  marks  the  play,  he  was  the  guiding  star 
Of  war's  wide  theatre.     Calm  and  serene, 
Mid  all  war's  changing  scenes ;  near  and  afar, 
He  ruled  its  destinies :  his  fame  to  mar, 
Inspired  the  hope  of  treason's  every  blow : 
His  death  closed  the  dark  drama  of  the  war, 
And  sorrowing  millions  mourn,  with  heartfelt  woe, 
The   hero  whose    high    worth    his  Godlike  actions 
show. 


10  THE     CON  I  K  ST. 


I  siim;  rlic  chiefs  wh<>  at  his  high  holiest, 
Lcavinjj:  tlit'  soft  delights  of  luxury, 
(lathered  from  North  and  South,  from  East  and  West, 
Their  loyal  legions  and  by  land  and  sea. 
Guided  their  way  to  glorious  victory, 
Or  to  heroic  death.     Many  a  field 
Well  fought  attests  their  skill  and  bravery 
More  forcibly  than  words,  and  they  revealed 
The  power  which  Freedom's  arm  in  danger's  hour 
can  wield. 

x  i. 

I  sing  the  noble  sons  of  honest  toil, 

.The  men  of  sturdy  frame  and  sweaty  brow, 

And  the  proud  masters  of  a  fruitful  soil, 

Who  left  the  bench,  the  anvil,  and  the  plow, 

And  with  a  courage  danger  could  not  cow, 

Went  forth  to  fight  for  truth  and  liberty  ; 

Free  sons  of  patriot  sires,  they  miirht  not  bow 

Before  the  traitor's  armed  power,  nor  b'e 

Ruled  by  their  haughtv  foes,  the  lords  of  slaverv. 


1 1 


Some  rest  in  the  bright  "  hind  of  sun  and  flowers," 
Some  'neath  the  ocean's  wave  serenely  sleep, 
Some  drag  in  torturing  pain  life's  lengthening  hours 
Shattered  and  maimed,  and  some,  more  happy,  reap 
In  pride  their  \vell-won  honors.     Let  us  weep 
Tlie    dead    and    praise    the    living.      Though    their 

names. 

Who  died  are  lost,  nor  flaunting  histories  keep 
Their  fame  \vho  live,  their  noble  daring  claims 
Our  love  and  admiration.  They  are  fame's 


Noblest,  and  bravest  children,  for  they  fought 
Not  as  the  hero  fights,  who  hopes  for  power, 
Place  and  emoluments  ;  they  were  not  bought 
By  stern  ambition  for  a  promised  dower 
Of  honors  and  renown  ;  but  in  the  hour" 
Of  darkness  and  of  danger  they  went  forth, 
And  fearless  braved  the  battle's  leaden  shower, 
To  prove  the  strength  and  courage  of  the  North, 
And  save  from  trait'rous  foes  the  country  of  their 
birth. 


]-2  THE      CONTEST. 


Sumpter  i<  fallen  !     On  th'  encircling  wires, 
Which  srird  tin-  earth  withtho't,  the  message  streamM, 
IJy  liirhtniiiir  borne,  and  in  its  subtle  tires, 
Far  through  the  Northern  sky  defiant  gleamed. 
A  Hash  !  a  pause  !  then  the  report.     It  seemed, 
Not  that  tlie  spark  was  sent  by  mortal  hand; 
But  they  who  heard  the  message,  might  have  deemed 
A  thunderbolt  had  fallen,  at  Heaven's  command, 
To  rouse  to  ire   and  war  the  too  long  slumbering 
land. 


Treason,  for  many  a  year,  in  halls  of  state, 
Had  shown  his  front  unto  the  gaping  crowd 
Defiantly ;   and  men  who  would  be  great, 
Espoused  his  dastard  cause,  with  mouthings  loud 
Of  feigned  abuses.     Slavery's  minions  proud, 
Prated  of  liberty  in  speeches  grand, 
lrntil  the  rabble,  by  their  speech  endowed 
NVith  boldness,  raised  its  parricidal  hand 
To  strike  with   war  and  death  our  free  and  happy 
land. 


THE      CON TEST.  13 


Then  came  the  call  "  to  arms  ;"  and  from  the  fields 
Where  plenteous  stores  the  culturing  hand  await, 
And  from  the  busy  shops  where  labor  yields 
The  golden  harvests  which  her  servants  sate, 
From  halls  of  science,  and  from  halls  of  state, 
From  the  bright   homes  where  peaceful  trade  lias 

shed 

Her  golden  showers,  the  high,  the  low,  the  great, 
Roused  into  action  by  the  signal  dread, 
Marched  to  the   field  of  war,  with  firm,  unflinch- 
ing tread. 


Sons  left  their  father's  homes  ;  husbands  their  wives ; 

Brothers  from  sisters  did  unkindly  start, 

And  he,  who  owned  the  sacred  flame  which  gives 

A  tinge  of  heaven  to  life's  cold,  vennl  mart, 

Dared  from  the  charms  of  life  and  love  to  part, 

Laid  as  a  sacrifice,  with  steady  hand, 

Th'  uprooted  tendrils  of  a  bleeding  heart 

Upon  the  altar  of  his  native  land, 

And  took  in  her  defense  his  sword  and  battle-brand. 


u 


One  proud  and  brave  in  that  devoted  band, 
A  city's  idol,  and  a  nation's  pride  ; 
\Vas  doomed  to  fall  by  the  ussasin's  hand, 
In  the  first  flush  of  hope.     His  promised  bride 
Mourns  the  lost  life  so  near  with  her's  allied  ; 
His  comrades  weep  for  him  they  loved  so  well  ; 
His  country  owns  his  memory,  far  and  wide, 
With  martial  honors,  and  a  funeral  knell 
IliniiT    o'er   the    sorrowing  land  when  gallant  Ells- 
worth fell. 

X  i  X  . 

As  rivers,  fed  by  the-  converging  rills, 
Kach  from  its  separate  spring,  its  fountain  head, 
Themselves  converging,  leave  their  native  hills, 
And  still  increasing  in  their  onward  tread, 
Seek  the  broad  plains  by  all  earth's  waters  fed, 
Where  hoary  Neptune,  'neath  the  placid  deep, 
Reigns  on  his  coral  throne  in  splendor  dread, 
While  faithful  sentinels  their  vigils  keep 
Over    the    caverns    dark   where  wind    and   tempest 
sleep: 


THE      CONTEST.  15 


So  rushed  the  tide  of  men ;  and  as  the  sea, 
Tempest  and  wind  let  loose,  in  anger  wide 
Riseth  sublime,  and  dasheth  fretfully 
Against  the  shores,  with  wind  and  wave  allied 
Threat'ning  destruction  ;  so  the  living  tide, 
Swayed  by  the  gusts  of  passion,  which  so  high 
Can  raise  the  human  soul,  that  in 'its  pride' 
It  scorneth  death  and  danger,  rushed  to  try 
Its  prowess  'gainst  the  foe,  and  vengeance  was  the 
cry. 


And  as  old  Neptune,  in  his  marble  halls 

Lying  at  ease  reclined,  with  lordly  mien, 

Calm,  and  unruffled,  sendeth  and  recalls 

The  sprites  who  vent  in  awful  storms  his  spleen 

Upon  the  upper  waves,  his  realms  serene; 

So  Truth,  the  heavenly  angel  who  presides 

O'er  the  world's  destinies,  sitteth  unseen, 

Ruling  for  her  own  ends  the  stormy  tides 

Of  human  passion,  and  her  time  in  silence  bides. 


16  TUB      CONTEST. 

XXII. 

Oh  Truth  !     Bright  offspring  of  the  Infinite  ! 
Ansel  most  radiant  of  th'  immortal  band  ! 
Clothed  in  celestial  beauty,  thou  dost  sit. 
Guiding  the   loom  which  weave's  time's  woof  fore- 
planned 

Into  th'  infinite  warp,  with  thine  own  hand ; 
Charmed,  meanwhile,  by  music  of  the  spheres 
Rolling  in  harmony  ;  thy  works  shall  stand 
Gainincr  in  brightness,  through  the  blood,  the  tears, 
And  all   the   sorrows  dark  which   cloud  the   rolling 
rears. 


Empires  have  fallen ;  nations  sunk  in  night, 

And  blighted  races  passed  from  earth  away. 

Thou  call'st  new  governments,  new  realms  to  light, 

Freed  from  the  elements  of  their  decay, 

That  they  may  better  serve  thine  ends.     Their  sway, 

Improved  by  Reason  and  bv  Libertv, 

Heralds  the  coming  of  thy  brighter  day, 

And  shadows  forth  the  time  when  there  shall  be 

A  nobler  race  of  men,  in  soul,  in  body  free. 


T  II  E      C  O  X  T  K  S  T  .  17 


Doctrines,  forms,  systems  pass  away :  but  Truth 
Still  cheers  with  her  glad  form  the  human  soul, 
And  bright  in  hues  of  everlasting  youth, 
Smiles  with  a  beauty  Fate  may  not  control. 
Her  power  increases  as  the  ages  roll 
Their  dying  years  into  the  buried  past, 
And  when  our  age  and  race  are  but  a  scroll, 
Her  priests  shall  still  unfold  her  myst'ries  vast, 
And  worship    at  her   shrine  while    earth  and   time 
shall  last. 


And  now,  the  mass  with  proper  arms  supplied, 

And  subdivided  in  its  various  bands, 

Tlf  appointed  leaders  to  their  posts  divide 

To  teach  the  art  of  war  and  its  commands. 

Stern  discipline,  although  thy  rough  demands 

Suit  not  lessons  of  our  peaceful  days, 

He  must  be  led  by  thine  unerring  hands, 

Who  'mid  the  iron  hail  and  cannon's  blaze, 

On  death  or  victory  unmoved  would  fix  his  gaze. 


IS  I  1 1  1 ;      <    <  >  N  T  K  S  T . 

X  XVI. 

Tlu1  army  lay  about  the  Capitol, 

Gaining  in  strength  and  discipline  each  day  : 

lint  still  impatient,  longing  for  the  call, 

Which  to  war's  stirring  scenes  should  guide  its  way  : 

It  came  heart-thrilling;  but,  ere  he  essay 

A  forward  move  in  force,  the  chief  whose  hand 

On  battle-field  this  cumbrous  mass  must  sway, 

Gathering  the  whole  array  in  concourse  grand, 

In  pomp  of  martial  pride  reviews  his  new  command. 

XXVII. 

Grand  are  the  scenes  of  earth :     Its  boundless  sea, 

Dark  caves,  and  mounts  with  misty  summits  gray. 

Forests  and  plains  which  boundless  seem  to  be, 

Have  each  some  separate  grandeur  to  display; 

Hut  grander  far  than  these  is  the  array 

Of  armed  men,  when  bursting  on  the  sight, 

While  the  files  scream,  drums  beat,  and   trumpets 

bray. 

They  march  into  the  field,  with  banners  bright, 
The  while  their  burnished  arms  reflect  the  morning 

light. 


THE      CONTEST.  19 


So  thought  the  chief,  as  o'er  the  living  mass 

He  cast  his  eye,  and  took  th'  alloted  stand 

Upon  the  plain,  where  in  his  sight  should  pass 

For  his  review  the  whole  assembly  grand  ; 

The  army  stands  in  line :  then,  at  command, 

Quick  wheeling  into  column   passes  by 

The  place  where  sits  the  chief.     Each  separate  band 

Seeks  the  proud  favor  of  his  haughty  eye, 

And  longs  in  battle's  strife  its  prowess  good  to  try. 


And  it  is  beautiful :     The  band's  array, 
Whose  music  soothes  the  soldier's  fond  regrets, 
The  waving  plumes,  swords  bright,  and  banners  gay, 
And  prancing  charger  that  impatient  frets, 
Have  each  their  charm.     The  lines  of  bayonets 
Pass  by  with  steady  tramp,  and  now  appear 
The    well-trained    "  dogs    of  war,"  the  general's 

pets, 

The  band,  who,  on  the  field  where  cowards  fear, 
Discourse  the  music  sweet  which  warriors  love  to 

hear. 


21)  THE      CONTEST. 

XXX.  v 

But  couklst  thou  look  with  the  far-seeing  eyes 
Which  through  the  mists  of  sense,  with  clearer  light, 
SIT  the  dark  portent  that  reflected  lies 
rpon  the  picture  from  the  future's  night, 
Thou  wouldst  not  deem  it  beautiful.     Their  sight 
Reveals  the  gulf  before  that  grand  array  ; 
The  grinning  Death  behind  each  banner  bright  ; 
Above,  the  vulture  waiting  for  his  prey  ; 
Below,  the    graves   where    soon    their  bodies   shall 
decay. 

X  XXI. 

Seest  thou  yon  brilliant  youth  in  gay  attire. 
Witli  golden  locks,  and  cheeks  as  roses  fair, 
Where  sit  hope's  radiant  smiles;  checking  the  tire 
Of  the  wild  steed  that  owns  his  guiding  care  ? 
Snuii  shall  a  youthful  bride  in  sorrow  wear 
Mourning  for  him  whose  beauty  could  not  save, 
A  mother  weep  for  him  in  wild  despair  : 
While  choking  grass,  and  noxious  weeds  shall  wave 
In  rank  luxuriance  o'er  his  undiscovered  grave. 


21 


And  no\v  the  march  begins  :     A  well-trained  band, 
Courageous  lead  the  advance,  a  c-hosen  few  ; 
Behind,  in  order  by  their  loader  planned, 
The  different  arms  of  service.      Could  thy  view, 
From  some  commanding  point  at  once  look  through 
Tn  its  full  length  and  shape  this  various  throng, 
'T  would  seem  a  serpent  vast,  of  varied  hue, 
That  from  the  coil  unfolds  its  sinews  strong, 
And  o'er  th'  unwilling  earth  "  drags  its  slow  length 
along/1 


Days  pass  !  'tis  night !  and  slumber  rules  the  host 

On  earth's  protecting  bosom  lying  low, 

Save  where  the  sentinel  upon  his  post 

Walks  his  unwelcome  beat  with  footsteps  slow, 

Straining  his  sight  for  sign  of  lurking  foe, 

And  thinks  of  home  and  friends  :   anon  his  eye 

Discerns  an  object  flitting  to  and  fro 

Amid  the  slumbering  host.     Is  it  a  spy  ? 

In  vain  its-  semblance  .strange  he  seeketh  to  descry. 


22  THE      CONTEST. 

X  X  XIV. 

Spell  bound  he  gazes,  as  with  stealthy  tread 

It  threads  the  slumbering  host  ;   \vith  what  design  ? 

Sometimes  erect,  bending  sometimes  its  head 

Over  a  slumbering  group,  as  'twould  divine 

Their  thoughts  and  characters.     Tracing  a  sign 

Of  mystic  meaning  over  one,  it  saith 

A  mystic  word.     And  now  'twould  cross  his  line. 

"  Halt !     Halt !"      A    freezing    chill  that    took     his 

breath, 
It   vanished   from   his    sight.     It    was    the    spectre 

Death, 


XXX  V. 


Who,  rambling  o'er  the  field  with  purpose  dark, 
In  that  curst  hour,  with  his  all-blighting  wand, 
Upon  his  victims"  brows  had  set  his  mark  ; 
That  he  in  battle's  hour  might  know  the  brand, 
And  take  them  to  himself.     Who  e're  his  hand 
Has  touched  ;  that  touch  the  bound  of  life  defines, 
And  for  the  members  of  that  sleeping  band 
O'er  whom  his  wand  hath  traced  those  mystic  lines, 
To-morrow's  rising  sun  shall  be  the  last  that  shines. 


THE      CONTEST.  23 

XXXVI. 

Now,  rising  from  his  couch  mid  Orient  hills, 

The  god  of  day  in  state  begins  his  rounds, 

The  lark  her  morning  song  in  rapture  trills, 

Soaring  aloft  toward  th'  ethereal  bounds, 

And  drums  beat  loudly.     Thrilling  now  resounds 

The  reveille  ;  and  now  the  vast  array 

Is  all  astir.     And  now  "  the  General  "  sounds, 

And  now  "  to  arms  "  the  brazen  trumpets  bray : 

Now  "  forward  "  is  the  call,  and  now  we  are  away 


XXXVII. 


Upon  our  onward  march,  and  soon  we  pass, 

At  Sudley's  well  known  ford,  a  lovely  stream 

Bordered  by  fields  of  waving  grain.     Alas  ! 

Is  there  the  soul  so  cowardly,  could  dream 

Of  death  'mid    such   a   scene  ?     The  sky's    bright 

gleam, 

The  stream,  air,  birds,  the  herd  whose  tinkling  bell 
Sounds  like  the  echoes  of  a  fairy  dream  ; 
A  gleam  of  light !     A  crash  !     A  screaming  shell, 
A  sheet  of  flame  and  smoke,  as  though  the  depths 

of  hell 


•_>4  TI1K      COX  TEST. 

XXXVIII. 

Had  yawned  before  us,  showed  us  that  the  fray 
Sought  for  so  many  days  was  now  begun. 
liurnside  commands  the  advance,  and  takes  his  way, 
Driving  the  rebel  lines  ;   while  lEeint/lemann, 
And  Hunter  hold  the  ground  which  he  has  won. 
<  )Yr  StonebridgCi  on  the  road  from  Warrentou 
To  Centrevillc,  now  rolls  the  war  cloud  dun, 
And  Sherman's  guns  upon  the  left,  anon, 
An-    heard,   the   foe   falls   hack,    the   field   is    almost 
won. 


New    England's    sons    have     bntvely    stormed     the 
height 

Where  blackest  lowers  the  battle's  sable  pall  ; 

P»ut,  from  the  pits  and  breastworks  on  their  right, 

The  leaden  showers  their  purposes  forestall, 

And.  tiling  to  the  left,  they  backward  fall 

Slowly  and  stubborn.     An  exulting  cry 

Hursts  from  the  foe,  as  Smith,  heeding  their  call 

For  help,  upon  the  field  they  now  descry, 

A\  ith  fresh,  exultant  troops  our  bleeding  ranks  to  try. 


TT!  K      rONTEST.  >2 .5 

X  I. . 

Then  came  the  shook  of  war  :     As  when  the  sen 

Rusheth  impetuous  Vainst  the  firmest  shores 

In  anger,  and  retiring  stubbornly. 

Again  liis  backward  ti<le  in  fury  ])ours, 

Andtbaffieel  of  his  prey  in  madness  roars; 

So  rushed  the  battle's  tides.     All  thou  canst  call 

Mortal  seems  passed  away.     The  sight  restores 

Each  man  a  rock,  each  rank  a  solid  wall, 

The  foe,  the  tempest  dark  that  threateneth  its  fall. 

x  \.  \ . 

Elzey  and  Earley  massing  on  our  right, 
Mow  down  our  thinning  ranks,  an  easy  prey, 
And  still,  as  fresh  supports  appear  in  sight 
For  them,  and  none  for  us,  we  backward  sway 
Slowly;  now  break;  now  fiee  in  wild  dismay, 
Crushed,  broken,  overwhelmed.     As  when  the  tide, 
Clearing  each  barrier  in  its  onward  way, 
Spreads  the  engulfing  ruin  far  and  wide; 
So  the  pursuing  foe  appears  on  every  side. 


>Jt;  THE      CONTEST. 

X  L  I  I  . 

Where  is  the  bright  array  which  on  the  morn, 
Burniiiij  with  martial  pride  and  courage  high, 
Beiran  the  fatal  day  ?     Their  banners  torn, 
And  trampled  on;   their  arms  thrown  down;  they 

fly 

Pallid  with  fear,  and  each  excited  eye 
Suspicious  sees  th'  avenging  death  concealed 
Behind  each  rock,  each  tree  ;   each  weight  thrown  by, 
With  straining  limbs  they  shun  the  fatal  field, 
And  'gainst  the  dreaded  foe  their  swiftness  is  their 

shield. 

XLII  I. 

Iii  vain  McDowell  seeks  to  check  the  rout, 

And  Heintzlemann  to  stem  the  ebbing  tide ; 

Tyler  essays  in  vain,  his  sabre  out, 

To  stop  the  fugitives.     Their  martial  pride, 

Their  discipline  are  gone.     Each  threat  defied, 

Wretched  they  fly;   and  mid  the  crash,  the  jar 

Of  struggling  thousands,  in  disorder  wide, 

Upon  the  tic-Ids  and  roads,  near  and  afar, 

Wrecked  and  dismantled  lie  the  implements  of  war. 


THE      CONTEST.  27 


But  let  us  not  forget  before  they  fly, 
E'er  overpowered  our  legions  backward  sway, 
The  deeds  of  daring  and  of  courage  high, 
Which,  through  the  mists  of  that  disastrous  day, 
Shine  with  a  light  whose  brilliance  doth  allay 
The  darkness  of  its  loss.     Many  a  brave 
And  true  heart  perished  there.     Nor  can  we  say 
That  they  are  lost  whose  valor  could  not  save, 
Their  names  shall  stand  redeemed  triumphant  o'er 
the  irrave. 


There  perished  Haggerty  ;  there  Slocum  fell ; 
And  there,  cut  down  untimely,  died  Ballon ; 
And  thou  brave  Cameron  :   thy  funeral  knell 
Shall  shroud  with  gloom  the  Capitol,  and  bow 
Its  proudest  heads  in  grief.     Much  honored,  thou 
Hadst  hoped  a  brilliant  future.     But  the  grave 
Knows  no  distinctions.     Nor  the  lordly  brow, 
Nor  friends,  nor  rank,  nor  honors  high  can  save 
The  fated  bark   of  life  from  Death's   all  whelming 
wave. 


Sherman!     Thou,  too.   wast  there.     Did  thy  proud 

soul 

Share  in  the  irlooni  which  from  that  fatal  lield 
Spread  o'er  the  sorro \viiiij  land  ?      Did  its  control 
Make  thee  despondent?      Or  was  there  revealed 
A  forethought  of  the  time  when  thon  shonldst  wield. 
Victorious,  freedom's  sword?      When,  led  by  thee, 
A  coiHpieriii'j;  host,  thy  courage  for  its  shield. 
Should  march  triumphant  to  the  Bounding  sea. 
And  plant  upon  its  shores  the  banner  of  the  free. 


Who  knows  the  moral  of  this  dreadful  day, 
This  halt  in  freedom's  proorri'ss  '?     What  the  harms. 
The  hidden  springs,  the  causes  deep  that  lay 
Under  its  revelations  dark.     What  charms 
Weakened  our  strength,  and  paralyzed  our  arms  ? 
AVas't    the    toes    strong   battalions?       Xo !       Their 

power 

Aided,  but  did  not  cause  the  dire  alarms, 
Which  in  the  bud  nipped  the  new  opening  flower 
Of  blooming  victory  in  that  disastrous  hour. 


THE      CONTEST. 


Oft  times  a  spirit  stirring  in  the  air, 
Th'  unseen,  but  potent  fear,  whose  <l;irk  wings  flit 
Over  the  battle-field,  has  brought  despair 
Unto  the  bravest  hearts ;  its  influence  lit 
Disastrous  ou  our  standards.     It  was  tit 
We  should  be  humbled,  and  our  punishment 
Was  but  our  dues:  on  whom  the  Infinite 
Hath  laid  his  chastening  rod,  in  reverence  bent. 
Let  him  adore  His  name,  and  of  his  sins  repent. 


Hard  are  the  lessons  of  experience, 
But  wholesome  in- their  teachings.     It  was  good 
That  we  be  humbled,  thrown  on  our  defense, 
Menaced  somewhat,  that  we  might  be  endued 
To  know  the  full  extent  and  magnitude 
Of  our  allotted  task.     The  monster  birth, 
The  armed  men  sprung  of  treason,  are  subdued 
Not  in  a  day;  but  desolate  many  a  hearth 
Must  be,  and  war  and  flames  must  curse  the  shuil- 
(leriiiff  earth. 


30  THE      (ON  TEST. 

L. 

We  were  too  sure,  too  confident.     We  hoped   • 
The  treason  blatant,  with  wrhose  firm  array 
Our  Senators  for  thirty  years  had  coped, 
By  arms  to  conquer  in  a  single  day, 
And  hugged  the  fatal  error,  till  its  sway 
Had  brought  us  nigh  to  ruin.     We  were  taught 
That  right  not  always  wins  in  bloody  fray ; 
That  not  by  numbers  great  is  victory  bought ; 
But  by  stern  discipline  and  battle  wisely  fought. 


'Tis  thus  in  all  the  varied  scenes  of  life : 
Trusting  too  much  its  native  powers,  the  mind 
Enters  too  soon  upon  earth's  field  of  strife, 
Exulting,  ardent,  hopeful,  till  we  find 
Defeat  rewards  us,  and  the  soul  confined, 
And  clipped  her  fancy's  soaring  wings,  must  bend 
To  years  of  patient  toil,  and  be  resigned 
To  walk  awhile  the  earth,  that  in  the  end, 
To   truth's    sublimest    heaven,    in    pride    she    may 
ascend. 


THE      CONTEST.  31 


We  stoop  to  conquer.     Would  thy  daring  soul 
Ascend  unharmed,  ambition's  loftiest  height, 
Or,  by  th'  intricate  paths  of  wisdom's  scroll, 
Seek  t|»e  bright  shrine  of  Truth's  diviner  light? 
If  thou  wouldst  leave,  as  impress  of  thy  might, 
New  dynasties  on  earth  ;  or  if,  more  bold, 
Wouldst  l)e  a  guiding  star  in  time's  dark  night, 
Or  pile  in  doubling  heaps  the  glittering  gold, 
Ere  thou  control  the  prize,  thyself  must  be  controlled. 


As  Jacob  served  for  Rachael,  thou  must  serve, 
And  if,  when  thou  hadst  done  the  task  ordained, 
The  guerdon  b<-  denied,  thou  must  not  swerve, 
But  labor  on  until  it  be  attained. 
So  shall  it  brighter  seem,  as  thou  hast  gained 
It  through  much  toil  and  suffering,  and  when  thou, 
Toilworn  and  breathless,  and,  it  may  be,  stained 
With  hostile  blood,  before  Fame's  shrine  shalt  bow, 
With  never-fading  wreaths    she   shall   bedeck   thy 
brow. 


So  he -of  old,  who  in  his  lonely  cave 
Passed  youth's  bright  hours  in  tireless  industry; 
His  friends,  the  rock,  the  mountain,  and  the  wave, 
And  wrangled  loud  with  the  complaining  sea, 
Kmerged  the  king  of  eloquence.      So  he 
Who  hid  from  vulgar  eyes  the  sacred  fire 
That  burned  within  him,  till  its  light  should  be 
Brilliant  and  steadfast:   when  he  touched  the  lyre. 
Waked  the  deep  echoing  tones  which  mighty  tho'ts 
inspire. 

i.  v . 

So  Newton,  toiling  on  through  many  years, 
Evoked  the  power  that  doth  the  stars  pervade; 
And  thus,   thro"  fire    and    blood,  thro"   groans    and 

tears, 

The  all-subduing  imp  whom  Mars  obeyed. 
Whose  balls  o'ertoppled  nations,  and  whose  blade 
Carved  in  the  flinty  Alps  his  lasting  name, 
Maintained  his  onward  march,  till  he  had  made 
The  world  his  suppliant;   and  in  anger  came 
And  stormed,  and  took  bv  force  the  citadel  of  Fame. 


T  II  E      C  O  N  T  K  S  T  . 


So  he,  our  hero,  daring  to  aspire 

The  highest  rounds  of  fortune  to  essay, 

Nurtured,  unseen,  the  elevating  fire 

WhoseWight  should  lift  him  from  his  native  clay 

To  be  a  people's  idol,  and  to  sway 

The  destinies  of  a  nation.     To  decree 

The  freedom  of  a  race,  and  to  display 

The  conquering  power  of  hearts  that  dare  be  free, 

Over  the  bolts,  bars,  scourge,  and  chains  of  slavery. 


So  thou  brave  Johnson,  who,  in  halls  of  state 
Dost  sway  a  power  grander  than  kings  e'er  swayed, 
Didst  bear  the  stubborn  will  which  conquers  fate. 
That  priceless  gem  whose  brilliance  cannot  fade, 
Hid  'neath  thy  vestments,  till  its  light  displayed 
Should  make  thee  peer  of  princes  ;  more  revered 
Thus  hidden,  so  displayed ;  than  hadst  thou  made 
Its  light  vulgar  and  common,  or  hadst  feared 
To    show  its   brilliance    when    thy    country's    need 
appeared. 


TIIK     CONTEST. 


"Tis  night  upon  the  battle-field.      Tin-  stars 
Tread  in  u~  the  round  of  night's  encircling  zone, 
Seem  weeping  through  the  fleecy  mist  that  mars 
Their  native  brilliance,  and  night's  /ephyrs  lone 
Chant  a  sad  requiem,  with  fitful  moan. 
Over  the  dead  and  dying.      Cheerless  shines 
On  them  tlT  unpitying  moon:   anon  a  groan 
Tells  human  suffering  near.     The  eye  defines 
Where  many  a  manly  form  upon  the  earth  reclines 


The  wrecks  of  the  (lay's  storm:   bleeding,  and  torn. 
And  lacerated  lies  the  form  divine, 
The  imnge  of  its  Maker.      Is  man  born 
T<>  -urli  disasters?     Mu-t  the  stars  still  shine 
In  future,  as  ill  past,  on  the  red  wine 
Crushed  from  the  press  of  passion  ?     Has  his  crime 
Deserved  such  punishment?     Doth  all  combine 
T"  augment  his  misery  'J.      This  truth  sublime, 
SYines  thro'   the  lines  of  blood  that  mar  the  book 
of  Time. 


35 


LX  . 

Man  is  but  finite  ;  truth  is  infinite  ; 
Progressive  he;  but  she  for  aye  the  same: 
The  temple  she  farshining  from  the  height, 
Ile-bu^the  pilgrim,  who  would  write  his  name 
Among  her  vot'ries,  and,  should  foeman's  aim 
Obstruct  his  upward  path;   rather  than  give 
The  heights  already  gained,  fearless  his  frame 
Must  risk  the  mortal  combat:  yea  must  strive 
E'en  to  the  bloody  death  ;  that  they  who  yet  shall 
live, 


Still  pressing  on  toward  the  shining  goal, 
Gaining  at  length  the  glittering  summit's  height, 
May  drink  from  Truth's  pure  fountains,  and  the  soul 
May  bask  forever  in  the  sacred  light 
That  floods  her  palaces.     Not  lost  the  tight, 
Though  thou  fall  in  th"  ascent,  thy  closing  eyes 
See  but  the  portals ;  but  upon  their  sight 
Who  follow  thee,  shall  break  with  glad  surprise 
Its  inner  glories,  and  the  myst'ries  of  the  skies. 


Nor  art  thou  unrewarded  :   while  our  eyes 

\Yccp  sorrowing  tears  above  tliy  moldVing  clay:' 

Tliy  soul,  ex-aping  to  its  kindred  skies, 

Freed  from  earth's  prison  house,  shall  take  its  way 

Thro'  trackless  fields  of  thought :  sublime  shall  sway 

The  hidden  powers  of  wisdom,  and  its  o-aze 

See  chaos  turned  to  shape  by  truth's  bright  ray: 

The  while  it  tunes  its  notes  of  endless  praise 

To  th'  all-creative  One,  through  everlasting  days. 


And  though  this  earthly  fabric  may  decay, 
The  victim  doomed  of  death's  destroying  ire, 

tiered  particles  shall  still  obey 
The  laws  of  nature.     Still  shall  they  aspire, 
Instinctive,  toward  the  all-pervading  fire, 
That  flashed  its  infinite  glimpses  on  thine  eyes. 
And  toward  that  truth,  whose  all-enchanting  lyre 
Echoed  of  hidden  mysfries  ;   till  thou  rise, 
And    take    again   thy    course    rejoicing    toward    the 

skies. 


T  FIE      CONTEST.  37 


When,  iii  the  cycle  of  the  centuries, 

The  elements  which  thy  decay  doth  yield 

To  th*  unthinking  clod,  again  shall  rise, 

By  life's  pervading  fires  once  more  annealed  ; 

To  their  expanded  slight  shall  be  revealed 

The    truths,    which    in    those    centuries    struggling 

thought 

Has  wrested  from  the  infinite.     Concealed 
No  more,  the  things  so  eagerly  now  sought, 
Common  as  "household  words  "  shall  everywhere 

be  taught. 


Then  shall  a  nobler  race,  with  loftier  powers, 

More  holy,  worship  at  a  brighter  shrine, 

Whose  light,  more  fixed,  concent'red  more  than  ours, 

Shall  shine  into  the  soul  with  more  divine, 

And  clearer  radiance  ;  nor  shall  creeds  define 

The  color  of  its  beams ;  nor  shall  the  sword 

Tinge  the  priest's  vestments,  but  his  hands  shall  twine 

The  wreaths  of  friendship.     With  a  common  word, 

A  common  brotherhood  shall  praise  a  common  Lord. 


:',s  THE      <'  ON  TEST. 

I.  XVI. 

Xi'.xt  dav  t!>e  sympathizing  skies  in  gloom 
Wept  pitying  tears  upon  the  sorrowing  earth  ; 
Men  trembling,  told  with  pallid  lips  the  doom 
Of  friends  an  1  comrades  fallen,  and  a  dearth 
Of  hope  and  confidence  spread  with  the  birth 
Of  the  sad  tidings.      Treason  waved  on  high 
His  bloody  sword ;   while  Freedom,  sunk  to  earth, 
Seemed  struggling  for  her  life,  and  Tyranny 
Kxultant  clanked  his  chains,  and  laughed  defiantly. 


And  still,  as  pass  the  days,  the  circling  wires 
Tell  fresh  distasers.      In  the  West,  Lyon, 
Too  brave,  has  fallen,  and  his  force  retires, 
l>y  overwhelming  numbers  overthrown. 
After  a  gallant  conflict,  Lexington 
Is  fallen,  Jx-lmont  lost ;   The  air  is  rife 
With  rumors.      Uaker,  in  the  East,  anon. 
Daring  the  foe  in  an  unequal  strife, 
O'erpowered,   has    lost    at  once,  his    army  and  his 
life. 


THE      CONTEST.  3 

I.  X  v  I  1 1  . 

Lyon  and  Baker !     Two  more  gallant  names 
Are  not  inscribed  upon  the  glowing  page 
Of  the  world's  history.     Their  valor  shames 
The  daring  high  of  the  heroic  age  : 
Years  shall  increase  their  fame :  their  acts  engage 
Undying  honors.     Conquerors  o'er  the  grave 
Triumphant  they.     At  fate  they  cast  the  gage, 
Bright  as  at  dawn,  their  setting  sun  shall  save 
Their    sacred    mem'ries    from    oblivion's    whelmin 
wave. 


Was  he,  the  chief,  despondent  ?     No  !   his  eye, 
Prophetic,  through  the  clouds  of  that  dark  day 
Beheld  the  gleaming  of  the  brighter  sky 
That  lay  beyond  ;  when,  by  that  fatal  fray, 
The  humbled  nation  being  taught  to  weigh 
More  certainly  the  purpose,  and  the  power, 
The  hate,  and  venom,  and  the  strong  array 
Of  foemen  ;  better  from  that  penitent  hour 
Should   rise   triumphant   and  its   foes   should   over- 
power. 


40  THE    CONTEST. 


LXX. 


Trusting  the  workings  of  that  sacred  fire, 
Which  waked  the  tiaiaes  of  Freedom's  dawning  light, 
And  which,  transmitted  from  each  patriot  sire 
Unto  each  loyal  son,  now  burns  as  bright, 
As  radiant  as  then.      He  told  aright 
Our  danger,  and  its  cure  ;  and  made  his  call 
For  men  to  save  the  land.     They,  for  the  right, 
•'Xeath  tin-  Republic's  standard  ventured  all, 
Resolved  to  conquer,  or  in  its  defense  to  fall. 

LXXI  . 

As  Moses  smote  the  gushing  rock  ;  so  He 
Opened  the  people's  hearts,  and  they  poured  forth 
Their  choicest  treasures,  and  unsparingly 
Resolved  on  victory ;    the  loyal  Xorth 
Sent  forth  her  sons  to  battle,  pledged  their  worth, 
To  wage  relentless  war;  each  heart,  each  hand, 
Nerved  with  a  firm  resolve  that  nought  on  earth 
Should  swerve  them  from  the  cause,  till  every  band 
Of  foes  should  be  overthrown,  and  saved  their  native 
land. 


THE      CONTEST.  41 

L  X  X  I  1  . 

Saw  ye  the  deadly  foe  of  Liberty  ? 

The  bearded  Lion  ?      Me,  the  beast  of  prey, 

Who  holds  no  man,  who  is,  or  dares  be  free, 

In  all  the  varied  climes  that  own  his  s\vay. 

Th.e  form  crouched  for  the  spring,  the  armed  array 

Of  claws  distended,  and  the  eye  intent ; 

But  now,  our  cause  triumphant,  with  dismay, 

In  slavish  fear  and  adulation  bent, 

He  licks  the  feet  of  her,  whose  form  he  would  have 

rent. 

*  ' 

t  L  X  X  1 1 1 . 

Yes  haughty  Albion,  in  thy  friendships  cold, 
And  purely  selfish  in  thine  every  aim, 
Lending  to  tyranny  thy  power  and  gold : 
Though  many  fear,  and  all  respect  thy  name ; 
But  tew  can  love  thee,  for,  unto  thy  shame 
Let  it  be  spoken,  thou  hast  used  thy  power 
To  crush,  mid  not  to  raise.     When  Freedom  came 
To  wed  Columbia,  thou  gav'st  for  dower 
Thy  curse,  and    strewdst  with    shot    and  shell  her 
bridal  bower. 


4'_'  T  Hi:       r  O  XT  E  ST. 

I.  X  X  I  V. 

And  when,  in  later  years,  her  form  matured, 
\Vith  death  was  threatened  by  the  impious  band 
Of  her  rebellious  sons,  they  were  assured 
Of .  thy  firm  friendship.      Thou  didst  shake  the  hand 
Red  \vitli  its  mother's  <£orc.      Willing  thy  land 
Lent  unto  treason's  cause  its  secret  aid, 
And  \vheii  that  cause  triumphant  seemed  to  stand, 
And  Freedom's  bravest  champions  \vere  dismayed. 
In  many  a  signal  form  thy  u'ladness  was  displayed. 
• 

I.  X  X  V. 

She  hoped  not  tor  thy  sympathy.      Her  cause 
Finds  not  its  advocates  and  lovers  classed 
Amoiio-  the  nrreat  of  earth:  but  honor's  laws 
Mi^ht  have  taught  some  the  irauntlet  not  to  oast 
Till  a  more  n't  occasion,  for  thou  hast 
Menaced  her  form  when  wounded,  and  in  pain, 
But  rescued  now  she  looks  upon  the  past. 
And  if,  indignan:  at  her  honors'  stain, 
She    calls    her    sons   to    arms,   she    shall   not   call    in 
vain. 


THE      COXTEST.  43 


Let  not  the  serpent  dare  the  fatal  sting  ; 
Let  not  the  eagle  stoop  to  seize  his  prey  ; 
Let  not  the  lion  try  the  deadly  spring; 
Let  not  the  secret  foes  more  base  than  they, 
Exult  in  Freedom's  suffering  ;  though  to-day, 
She,  rising  from  the  earth,  in  faintness  reels  ; 
Victor,  shall  she  the  battle's  sceptre  sway;' 
And  while  a  sacred  wrath  her  pity  steels, 
Shall   grind   her  foes   to  dust  beneath    her   chariot 
wheels. 


To-day's  dark  clouds  weep  o'er  a  people  bowed 
In  sorrow,  'neath  a  crushing  weight  of  woes  ; 
To-morrow's  sun  shall  see  a  nation  proud 
In  conscious  strength  go  forth  to  meet  her  foes  ; 
And  the  same  wave  that  late  receding  rose, 
A  weight  of  anguish,  o'er  our  troubled  sea, 
Advancing,  shall,  with  front  more  bold,  oppose 
Its  now  augmented  tide  unsparingly 
'Gainst  Treason's  bulwarks,  and  its  force  triumphant 
be. 


CANTO    SECOND. 


When  our  dread  chieftain,  in  the  darkening  sky 
Had  seen  the  coming  of  the  storm  portrayed, 
And  heard  from  Sumter's  walls  the  warning  cry, 
As  tlie  tirst  gleam  the  gathering  cloud  displayed, 
By  vested  power  he  summoned  to  his  aid 
The  people's  Congress,  and  its  counterpoise, 
The  august  Senate,  which  the  States  had  made 
The  guardians  of  their  honor,  that  their  voice 
In  council  miLcht  define  the  measures  of  their  choice. 


They  met  when  flags  and  banners  flaunting  gay 

Throughout  the  happy  land,  and  cannons1  boom, 

And  martial  music  told  the  welcome  day 

Recurred,  when  the  Republic  from  the  womb 

Of  the  dark  past  emerged,  and  from  time's  loom 

Took  the  tri-colored  robe  of  liberty, 

And,  clothed  in  beauty,  went  forth  to  assume 

Her  place  among  the  nations,  and  to  be 

Tiie  savior  of  the  oppressed,  and  guardian  of  the  free. 


THE      CONTEST. 


It  should  have  been  a  day  of  mirth  and  gladness ; 
But  the  gay  banners  seemed  to  droup  forlorn, 
And  the  dark  spirit  of  a  coming  sadness 
Seemed  on  the  pinions  of  the  music  borne  ; 
And  the  deep  booming  guns,  that  from  the  morn 
'Till  sunset  told  the  tale  of  Freedom's  birth, 
Muttered  a  portent  of  the  time,  when  torn 
Those  flags  should  be,  and  to  the  sorrowing  earth 
Those  notes  should  tell  the  tale  of  many  a  desolate 
hearth. 


When  in  due  form  the  concourse  was  assembled, 
Lincoln  addressed  them  thus :  "  The  time  is  come, 
At  whose  prophetic  shade  our  fathers  trembled, 
And  which  they  sought  t'  avert.     The  fife  and  drum 
Usurp  the  place  of  reason,  and  the  hum 
Of  hostile  bullets  whispers  to  our  ears 
Th'  traitor's  serpent  hiss.      Will  ye  stand  dumb? 
Or  seek  to  win  by  useless  prayers  and  tears 
Those   who   profane   each   shrine   that   memory   en- 
dears? 


46 


Ye  are  the-  hearers  01    the  people's  might, 
Tlie  chosen  u'nardiaus  of  their  liherty; 
Will  ve  surrender  every  sacred  right 
F<>r  which  our  fathers  fought  ?   and   shall  there  be 
Noplace  of  rest  for  him  who  would  be  free:' 
Shall  impious  hands  destroy  the  happy  home 
Which  freedom  found  beyond  a  dangerous  sea. 
And  traitors  rule  in  liberty's  fair  dome, 
While  through  the  scornful  earth  her  exiled  children 
roam  'J. 


In  vain  hath  Freedom  reared  her  sacred  fane. 
And  built  with  careful  hand  its  varied  parts, 
And  placed  its  altars,  it'  she  have-  not  lain 
Its  firm  foundations  in  the  people's  hearts: 
Fise  shall  the  demagogues1  insidious  ;<i;ts 
E"er  long  gain  full  possession  of  its  walls, 
And  change  its  sacred  vestibules  to  marts 
\\  here-  at  the  price  of  souls  the  hammer  falls, 

And  the  scourge-tortured  slave    in   vain  for   mercy 

calls. 


Till-;      CONTEST. 


The  people  are  the  source  of  strength  :   from  them 
We  hold  the  tenure  of  our  vested  power. 
What  they  approve,  so  we.      What  they  condemn, 
We  likewise  must  forbear,  and  in  the  hour 
When  o'er  our  sea  the  clouds  of  battle  lower, 
We  hold  the  helm  and  rudder,  they,  the  weight 
Of  rope,  and  mast,  and  spar  ;  that,  mid  the  shower 
Of  shot  and  shell,  unharmed,  the  Ship  oi'  State 
Through    battle's    dangerous    waves    may   bear    its 
priceless  freight. 


Ye  are  th'  exponents  of  the  people's  will:  from  you 
•Must  come  the  action  that  their  voice  demands. 
\re,  as  their  wishes  guide  you,  must  renew 
Th'  approval  of  our  acts,  and  to  our  hands 
Must  give  a  force  equal  to  that  which  stands 
In  arms  opposed  to  us  by  land  and  sea, 
And  give  the  sacred  seal  to  our  commands 
Of  popular  sanction,  that  our  hands  may  be 
Powerful    to    shield    from    harm    their    rights    and 
liberty. 


r  x  . 


Thi*  is  a  contest  for  the  people's  rights: 

Ambitions  leaders  seek  to  overthrow 

A  government  whose  chosen  form  unites 

In  equal  liberties  the  high  and  low, 

The  rich  and  poor,  and  whose  enactments  know 

No  rank  save  that  which  honest  merit  gains 

For  its  possessor,  and  where  each  may  show 

His  native  powers,  uncurbed  by  custom's  chains, 

Whose  weight  in  other  lands  the  lowly-born  restrains. 


A  government  which  seeks  the  elevation, 
And  highest  freedom  of  the  human  race  ; 
To  clear  to  all  the  paths  of  emulation  ; 
To  lift  all  artificial  weights,  and  place 
Each  on  an  equal  footing  in  the  chase 
For  wealth  and  honors  :     Where  the  people  weigh 
Contending  claims,  and  honor  or  abase 
Whom  they  may  choose ;  but  reverently  obey 
Him  whom  their  choice  has  raised  their  destinies  to 
swa  '. 


THE      CONTEST.  49 


Such  is  the  government,  against  whose  life 
A  band  of  baffled  traitors  stand  allied, 
And  seek  to  gain  by  war  and  civil  strife, 
The  power  the  people's  sacred  voice  denied : 
Powerless  to  rule  the  whole,  they  would  divide 
The  sacred  heritage  our  fathers  gave ; 
Or,  by  its  overthrow,  spread  far  and  wide 
Their  power  and  conquests;  till,  o'er  freedom's  grave, 
Throughout  our  conquered  land  their  serpent  flag 
should  wave. 


By  war  this  government  our  fathers  founded  : 
By  war  maintained  its  power  'gainst  foreign  foes  ; 
And  we,  by  treason's  armed  hosts  surrounded, 
By  war  must  vindicate  it,  and  oppose 
The  power  which  their  embattled  hosts  disclose  : 
Those  principles  by  force  of  arms  maintain 
For  which  our  fathers  fought,  and,  mid  the  woes 
Of  civil  strife  the  traitor's  hand  restrain ; 
E'en  though  our  hearts  best  blood  his  murd'rous 
blade  may  stain. 


50  THE      CONTEST. 


Let  us,  \vith  firm  reliance  on  that  God 

Who  holds  our  fate  in  his  all-powerful  hand, 

And  by  the  stroke  of  his  chastening  rod 

Corrects  his  chosen  ones,  and  through  the  land 

Exalt,  or  humble,  whom  his  will  hath  planned 

To  honor  or  abase  ;  with  purpose  pure, 

Go  forward  with  stout  hearts,  and  fearless  stand 

The  furnace  blast  of  trial ;  being  sure 

That  what  his  arm  protects,  forever  shall  endure. 


The  assembly  heard  these  hopeful  words  with  pleas- 
ure, 

And  in  accordance  with  his  wish,  decreed 
That  men  should  be  enrolled,  and  food  and  treasure 
Collected  to  supply  their  every  need, 
And  gave  its  sanction  to  his  every  deed : 
Bur  some  there  were  sullen  and  discontented, 
Who  with  each  word  and  action  disagreed, 
And,  in  despondent  speeches  loud,  repented 
That  Union's   broken  band  with  blood  should  be 
cemented. 


THE      CONTEST.  51 


Foremost  of  these*  Valljindigham  arose, 
"  We  hear,"  he  said,  "  the  battle  from  afar  ; 
But  too  soon  shall  we  know  the  bitter  woes 
Of  cruel  strife  and  fratricidal  war, 
And,  in  the  general  crash,  and  hostile  jar. 
Who  may  escape  unharmed  ?     We  fly  to  arms, 
And  seek  to  bind  to  our  triumphal  car 
Our  captive  brothers,  who,  by  dire  alarms 
Oppressed,  would  guard  their  land  from  conquest's 
threatened  harms. 


"  By  right  of  human  laws  and  heaven's  command, 

Millions  of  human  chattels  bend  the  knee 

To  the  proud  rulers  of  their  happy  land, 

Th'  appointed  guardians  of  their  liberty, 

Chosen  by  Heaven  tfie  instruments  to  be 

Of  their  redemption  ;  but  with  impious  hand, 

Fanatics  would  destroy  the  sacred  tree, 

Whose  patriarchal  shade  God's  will  hath  planned, 

A  symbol  of  his  power,  through  every  age  to  stand. 


.->  J  T  H  K      C  O  N  T  E  S  T  . 


u  And  strive  with  wicked  xe:d,  and  without  cause, 
By  argument,  and  by  incentive  speech, 
To  set  those  free,  whom  God  and  human  laws 
Have   placed   in   bondage.      They    would    seek    to 

preach 

A  word  of  disobedience,  and  to  teach 
Rebellion  to  the  servant,  and  incite 
In  his  obedient  mind  a  wish  to  reach 
Forbidden  wisdom,  and  by  treach'rous  flight, 
To  seek  the  unholy  shrine  of  freedom's  baneful  light. 


"  \Vc  give  to  Lincoln  men  and  arms  to  wage 
A  fratricidal  war.     Let  us  beware, 
Lest,  in  the  heat  of  conflict,  he  assuage 
His  hate  by  loosing  from  its  sullen  lair 
The  monster  insurrection,  and  the  air 
Vibrate  the  shrieks  of  babes  and  women  slain 
By  servile  hands,  and  to  our  eyes  the  glare 
Of  blazing  hamlets  shall  appeal  in  vain, 
To  save  a  shuddering  land  from  terror's  blighting 
reign. 


THE      CONTEST.  53 

XIX. 

"  And,  when  accustomed  to  these  scenes  of  blood, 
And  strong  in  men  and  dictatorial  power, 
May  not  some  Caesar,  of  ambitious  mood, 
Found  by  the  bondsmen's  willing  aid  the  tower 
Of  an  imperial  sway,  and  make  the  hour 
That  tells  the  subjugation  of  the  foe, 
The  birth-hour  of  a  tyrant,  who  shall  lower 
Alike  on  him  and  us,  and  overthrow 
Our  freedom,  and    no   law    save   his    own   interest 
know  ? 


"  Through  the  dim  vista  of  the  battle's  smoke, 
I  see  in  future  years  a  throne  uprise, 
Whose  occupant  with  iron  hand  shall  choke 
Each  breath  of  liberty.     The  tyrant's  spies 
Shall  lurk  in  every  home,  and  fraud,  and  lies, 
Bring  wealth  and  honors,  and  a  servile  horde, 
Black  as  their  lord's  affections,  shall  chastise 
Each  word  of  freedom  with  th'  uplifted  sword, 
And    decked  in   power   and    gold   obey  his    every 
word ! 


54  THE      CONTEST. 


"  Let  this  fierce  talk  of  war  and  discord  cease  : 
Let  hostile  words  and  actions  be  suspended  : 
Let  friendship,  and  the  olive-branch  of  peace, 
To  our  misguided  brothers  be  extended, 
'  With  promises  of  full  protection  blended. 
So  shall  they  peaceful  to  the  fold  return  : 
So  shall  the  government  be  best  defended  : 
So  shall  the  fires  of  discord  cease  to  burn  ; 
Nor   the    avenging   sword   brother  'gainst  brother 
turn." 


Then,  in  the  Senate,  Breckenridge  arose, 
A  noble  type  of  Southern  chivalry, 
Whom  for  his  eloquence  Kentucky  chose 
Her  champion  in  the  war  of  words  to  be, 
Which,  'twixt  the  advocates  of  slavery 
And  freedom,  long  had  raged.     Fit  advocate 
Of  the  select  and  chosen  few  was  he 
Whose  ranks  he  honored.     Skillful  in  debate, 
And  versed  in  ancient  lore,  in  mind  and   learning 
great. 


THE      CONTEST.  5o 


But  in  his  every  thought  and  action  proud, 
And  haughty  in  his  bearing  :     Holding  light 
The  praise  or  censure  of  the  changing  crowd 
Whom  he  despised ;  he  kept  alone  in  sight 
The  power,  the  interests,  and  the  vested  right 
Of  the  patrician  few,  who  held  in  chains 
The  laboring  millions  whom  their  craft  and  might 
Had  sunk  in  abject  bondage,  and  whose  gains, 
Wrought  'neath  th'  uplifted  lash,  from  the  South's 
fruitful  plains, 


Enriched  the  haughty  master  who,  at  ease, 

Enjoyed  the  products  of  their  daily  toil, 

And  in  each  changing  mood,  as  he  might  please, 

Scourged  or  embraced,  and  made  the  helpless  spoil 

Of  lust  or  hatred.     To  them  nor  the  soil, 

Nor  laws,  nor  people  of  a  foreign  state, 

Afforded  an  asylum  that  might  foil 

Pursuit  and  apprehension  ;  or  abate 

The  punishment  devised  by  a  pursuer's  hate  : 


56  THE      COXTEST. 

x  x  v . 

"  Ye  seek,"  he  said,  "  to  give  th'  approving  seal 
Of  your  most  reverend  wisdom,  unto  deeds 
Begot  of  hatred,  and  fanatic  zeal, 
And  dark  ambition.     Having  sown  the  seeds 
Of  civil  strife,  and  discord,  Lincoln  needs 
Your  favor  and  assistance  to  fulfill 
The  destined  purposes  for  which  he  leads 
His  armies  forth,  to  conquer  and  to  kill, 
And   shed   the    blood    of    those    \vho    disobey    his 
will. 


"  He  seeks  your  grave  approval  to  make  valid 

His  base  infractions  of  the  Constitution  : 

Having,  against  its  prohibitions,  rallied 

An  armed  force  to  mete  out  retribution 

To  those  who  sought  a  peaceful  dissolution, 

He  trusts  in  you,  the  odium  to  efface 

Of  damning  guilt ;  and,  by  your  base  collusion, 

Hopes  on  the  ruins  of  their  arms  to  base 

His  power,  and  freedom  give  to  a  detested  race. 


THE      CONTEST. 


"  Can  your  approval  confer  sanctity 
On  acts  of  lawlessness  and  usurpation  ? 
Or  lawful  make  the  action  by  which  he, 
Despite  the  Constitution's  limitation 
Of  his  high  powers,  decrees  the  subjugation 
Of  a  free  race,  and  seeks  by  force  to  bind 
Unwilling  states  to  a  confederation 
Whose  laws  they  loathe  and  hate,  and  who    com- 
bined, 
By  separation  seek  their  sacred  rights  to  find. 


"  No  !  let  us  rather  say  unto  our  brothers, 
'  Go  ye  in  peace,1  and  unto  him  who  seeks 
By  crafty  argument  to  gain  from  others 
The  approval  of  his  bloody  deeds,  and  speaks 
Of  freedom  while  upon  their  heads  he  wreaks, 
His  malice  and  his  lust  of  power,  and  strive- 
To  gain  a  dictatorial  sway,  and  ekes 
Out,  as  his  own,  a  nation's  gold  and  lives, 
While  on   oui   wasted   strength   his  dark   ambition 
thrives : 


58  THE      CONTEST. 


'"  To  him,'  I  say,  '  mete  out  the  punishment 
Th'  o'erflowing  measure  of  his  crime  demands  ; 
Restrain  the  will  on  blood  and  slaughter  bent; 
Nor  give  the  men  and  arms  into  his  hands, 
\Vliich  in  their  cunning  grasp  shall  be  but  wands 
To  raise,  as  if  by  magic,  from  the  earth 
A  servile  race,  who,  loosened  from  their  bands, 
Frenzied  with  rage,  and  drunk  with  brutal  mirth, 
To  scenes  of  fire,  and  blood,  and  horror  shall  give 
birth. 


"  Th'  unauthorized  increase  of  men  and  arms, 
The  reign  of  martial  law,  our  ports  blockaded, 
Defenceless  citizens  for  fancied  harms, 
Untried,  by  felon's  punishments  degraded, 
Each  right  denied,  each  call  for  help  evaded, 
These  base  infractions  of  each  vested  right, 
By  any  shade  of  justice  yet  unaided, 
Portend  the  time  when  Freedom's  waning  light 
Shall  perish  in  the  gloom  of  tyranny's  dark  night. 


THE      CONTEST.  59 


"  But  speech  is  all  in  vain :  the  time  is  come 
When  justice,  law,  and  argument  have  run 
Their  course,  and  are.no  more.     The  fife  and  drum 
Are  heard  instead  :  sword,  bayonet  and  gun 
Are  ministers  of  freedom.     I  have  done : 
I  only  pray  that  in  this  bloody  fight, 
If  gloriously  lost,  or  basely  won, 
The  hard  won,  priceless  boon  of  private  right 
Survive  the  rabble's  hate,  and  'scape  the  tyrant's 
mio-ht." 


From  out  the  galleries  loud  applause  resounded : 
Then  on  the  chamber  such  a  silence  fell, 
As  when  a  troop  by  unseen  foes  surrounded 
Waits  the  arousing  signal  which  shall  tell 
The  fight  begun,  and  break  the  powerful  spell 
Of  unknown  danger  ;  as,  against  their  foes 
Revealed,  they  rise,  and  boldly  fight,  and  well ; 
So  from  his  seat  the  gallant  Baker  rose, 
The  traitorous  harangue  by  reason  to  oppose. 


60 


A  man  of  powerful  frame,  whose  silvery  locks 
The  snows  of  many  a  winter's  storms  retained  ; 
He,  in  his  manhood  prime,  had  felt  the  shocks 
Of  struggling  hosts,  and  in  the  contests  gained 
That  martial  tire  and  valor  which  remained 
Within  his  aged  veins  :     These  words  he  spoke, 
In  whose  defence  his  life  blood  since  has  stained 
Virginia's  soil,  when  'neath  the  traitor's  stroke, 
He    found    that  peaceful  rest,  by  war,  nor  discord 
broke. 

XXXIV. 

'*  Most  ill,  O  Senators,  would  it  become 

One  whom  a  free,  a  loyal  people  chose 

To  guard  their  rights  and  freedom,  to  be  dumb, 

When,  in  the  nation's  Capitol,  her  foes 

Are  vindicated  and  their  friends  oppose 

Each  measure  to  defend  her  sacred  life 

'(Gainst  their  advancing  arms,  and  from  the  woes 

Of  dissolution  "neath  the  traitor's  knife, 

Her  sacred  form  to  save  by  quick  and  manly  strife. 


T  IT  E      C  O  X  TEST.  61 


"  What  had  been  said,  if,  in  a  government 
Republican,  in  a  more  martial  age, 
A  Roman  Senator  his  speech  had  lent 
Unto  their  aid  who  sought  with  hostile  rage 
His  country's  Capitol,  resolved  to  wage 
Relentless  war,  and  raised  his  voice  to  mock 
His  country's  brave  defenders,  and  assuage 
Their  righteous  anger  ?     From  Tarpeia's  rock 
.  Headlong  had  he  been  hurled  to  meet  the  deadly 
shock. 


"  111  fares  it  with  the  land,  when  treason's  voice 
Sounds  unrebuked  within  the  sacred  halls 
Of  government,  and  traitors  may  rejoice 
Unmindful  of  the  stern  rebuke  that  falls 
In  the  dark  shade  of  those  majestic  walls, 
From  out  whose  classic  niches  in  anger  frown, 
From  the  cold  marble  which  their  life  enthrals, 
The  men  of  mighty  power,  and  high  renown, 
Who  formed  this  government,  and  sent  it  down 


TUK      CONTEST. 


"To  us,  their  children,  as  a  heritage 
To  be  preserved  and  referenced.     Me,  for  one, 
Not  the  array  of  armies,  nor  the  rage 
Of  hostile  rabble  backed  by  sword  and  gun  ; 
Nor  all  the  embattled  nations  "neath  the  sun  ; 
Nor  apprehensive  treason's  warning  screams, 
Shall  swerve  from  my  allegiance,  while  run 
Within  these  aged  veins  the  circling  streams 
Whose  every  separate  drop  with  love  and  reverence 
teems 


"  For  that  bright  emblem  of  our  liberty, 
The  sacred  flag  'neath  which  our  father's  fought, 
Which  cheered  their  labors,  as  by  land  and  sea, 
From  the  Ufe-melting  fires  of  war  they  wrought 
The  fabric  of  onr  government,  and  taught 
Submission  to  the  tyrant.     Its  bright  stars 
Shall  still  by  pilgrims  from  afar  be  sought, 
And  to  dishonored  graves,  and  shameful  scars 
Its  stripes  shall  welcome    those  who    seek  by  civil 
wars 


THE      CONTEST.  63 


"  To  mar  its  beauty.     When  again  its  folds 
Float  o'er  each  city,  and  each  wilderness 
That  owned  their  sway,  and  unto  him  who  holds 
Their  standard,  though  alone  and  powerless, 
Thousands  of  loving  hearts  and  helping  hands  shall 

press  ; 

Or  trait'rous  hordes,  sullen  with  secret  hate, 
Trembling  in  abject  fear,  his  sway  confess: 
Then,  and  not  till  then,  be  it  soon  or  late, 
Shall  our  embattled  hosts  their  onward  march  abate. 


"  Till  then  let  countless  armies  tread  the  earth, 
And  whitening  sails  discolor  the  blue  deep : 
Let,  until  then,  the  people's  lives  and  worth 
Be  at  our  chiefs  command  ;  that  he  may  keep 
Well-filled  the  ranks  of  workmen,  who  shall  reap 
This  harvest  of  rebellion  :  Though  the  North 
Be  clothed  in  mourning,  and  the  South  may  weep ; 
Better  the  funeral  pall,  and  desolate  hearth, 
Than  a  disgraceful  peace  with  joy  and  festal  mirth. 


64  THE     roxTKST. 

XL  I. 

Then,  when  the  paean  of  our  victory 
From  ocean  swells  triumphant  unto  ocean. 
Let  him  who  bravely  fought  for  Liberty 
Seek  the  fair  idol  of  his  heart's  devotion, 
And  whisper  in  her  ear  the  fond  emotion 
That  warms  his  veins,  and  let  the  brave  dead  sleep 
Until  their  time ;  since  death  is  but  a  potion, 
Which  he  who  drinketh  but  forgets  to  weep, 
Xor  bides  from  misspent  youth  the  ills  of  age  to 
reap."' 

X  L  I  I  . 

Then  in  the  Senate  Johnson  rose.     A  man 

Of  powerful  mind  and  iervid  eloquence, 

And  fearless  in  his  bearing,  he  began 

His  course  at  fortune's  lowest  round,  and  thence 

By  his  own  toil  had  gained  the  eminence 

Of  senatorial  power.     Since,  he  obtained 

The  nation's  second  post  of  honor,  whence, 

At  Lincoln's  death,  the  summit  he  attained, 

And  o'er  a  rescued  land  wisely  and  firmly  reigned. 


THE      CONTEST. 


"  A  sacred  impulse  bids  me  rise,"  he  said, 
"  To  lift  my  voice  in  Freedom's  holy  cause, 
And  in  the  name  of  our  illustrious  dead. 
To  vindicate  the  government  and  laws 

For   which    they   fought,   against   his    speech    who 
draws 

Pretext  of  danger  from  each  measure  taken 

For  their  defense,  and  covets  the  applause 

Of  those  who  have  her  sheltering  nag  forsaken, 

And  seeks  in  loyal  minds  distrust  and  fear  to  'waken. 


"  When  Freedom,  driven  from  Britania's  isle, 
Loosed  her  frail  bark  upon  the  ocean's  foam, 
From  the  cold  tyrant's  hate,  and  cunning  guile, 
Resolved,  afar,  to  other  lands  to  roam, 
She  found  a  place  of  refuge,  and  a  home, 
In  fair  Columbia's  stately  solitudes, 
Built  on  its  granite  rocks  her  lasting  dome, 
And,  'mid  its  smiling  vales  and  verdant  woods, 
Fixed  on  the  fruitful  soil  her  children's  firm  abodes." 


06  THE      CONTEST. 

X  L  A'  . 

"  A  savage  foe  attacked  her  habitation, 

Her  children's  arms  his  pride  and  power  effaced, 
The  British  Lion  sought  in  exultation 
Her  new  found  home,  and  her  fair  form  menaced 
With  ships  and  armies :  conquered  and  disgraced, 
His  armies  captives,  and  his  arms  a  spoil, 
Howling  he  fled  across  the  watery  waste 
Back  to  his  home,  and  left  to  honest  toil, 
Untaxed  by  tyranny,  her  rich  and  fruitful  soil. 

X  L  V  I . 

"  And  when  a  band  of  baffled  demagogues, 
Powerless  to  rule  by  right  her  fair  domain, 
Powerless  to  stop  by  governmental  clogs 
Th'  advancing  wheels  of  reason,  or  to  chain 
The  consciences  of  men,  and  to  restrain 
By  fraud  or  force  the  onward  march  of  thought, 
Seek  her  destruction  ;  shall  she  not  maintain 
'The  freedom  which  by  patriot  blood  was  bought, 
And  shall  not  trait'rous  foes  her  mighty  power  be 
taught  ? 


THE      CONTEST.  67 

X  L  A'  I  I . 

"  This  contest  was  not  of  the  people's  seeking, 
They  had  no  ills  to  cure,  no  wrongs  to  right ; 
But  baffled  demagogues,  in  vengeance  wreaking 
'Gainst  Liberty  their  ineffectual  spite, 
Cheat  their  deluded  victims  by  the  sight 
Of  Freedom's  robe,  which  hides  the  ghastly  form 
Of  Tyranny,  who  leads  them  on  to  tight, 
And  .we  must  fearless  meet  the  trait'rous  swarm, 
Though  at  their  deadly  stings  may  flow  the  life  blood 
warm. 


"  This  is  a  sacred  contest :  Treason  rears 
His  hateful  form  and  aims  the  deadly  stroke 
At  that  Republic,  which,  through  the  bright  years 
Since  first  her  radiant  form  in  gladness  broke, 
A  shape  of  beauty,  from  the  battles'  smoke, 
Has  been  a  sacred  refuge  to  th'  oppressed 
Of  every  clime  and  nation,  and  which  woke 
The  flames  of  Liberty  whose  light  has  blest 
Freedom   in    other  lands  by  doubts    and  fears  op- 
pressed. 


tfS  THE      CONTKST. 


u  It*,  through  our  negligence,  by  force  of  arms 
Overthrown,  she  falls,  she  will  not  fall  alone  ; 
But  through  the  shuddering  earth  shall  dire  alarms 
Seize  freedom's  champions,  and  at  the  groan 
That  tells  her  dissolution,  every  throne 
Shall  join  to  spurn  her  image  from  the  earth, 
Freedom  no  more  throughout  the  world  be  known, 
While  at  our  vauntings  of  its  sacred  worth, 
Statesmen    and   kinirs    shall   laugh  in  most    unholy 
mirth. 


"  But  she  shall  never  fall:  though  traitVous  hordes 
Rise  from  the  earth  like  locusts'  fabled  swarms  : 
Though  unsheathed  bayonets  and  naked  swords 
Gleam  in  each  wood  and  glade,  and  leaden  storms 
Deluge  the  earth,  the  loyal  blood  which  warms 
The  veins  of  sons  begot  of  patriot  sires 
Knows  not  the  fear  of  traitors,  and  our  forms 
Shall  fearless  brave  the  battle's  wasting  tires, 
And   comrades   fill  his  place,  Avho  in  the  tight  ex- 
pires : 


THE      CONTEST.  69 

LI. 

"  Till  our  victorious  legions  sweep  from  earth 

Each  vestige  of  the  traitor's  boasted  power, 

And  show  the  government's  inherent  worth 

To  guard  as  well  its  rights  in  the  dark  hour 

Of  civil  insurrection,  as  when  lower 

The  clouds  of  foreign  war,  and  to  secure 

To  every  sovereign  State  the  promised  dower 

Of  a  free  government,  which  shall  endure 

In  earth's  tyrannic  night,  a  light  steadfast  and  sure. 

L  I  I  .      • 

"  Above  war's  lurid  clouds  and  fitful  flashes, 
Where  many  a  hearth  and  heart  in  rum  lies, 
Like  Phoenix,  bright  from  the  decaying  ashes, 
I  see  a  great,  a  happy  nation  rise, 
Governed  by  laws  benevolent  and  wise 
Which  a  free  people  reverently  obey  ; 
Where  men  of  every  race  beneath  the  skies, 
Each  subject  of  contention  cast  away, 
In    common   trust   and   love    shall   own  a  common 
sway." 


T  II  E      C  O  X  T  E  S  T  . 


The  throng  has  passed  away,  and  silence  reigns 
Where  late  the  sound  of  loud  debate  was  heard ; 
The  spirit  echo  of  the  place  maintains 
Unbroken  silence  now,  no  longer  stirred 
To  mock'ry  by  the  ire-provoking  word 
Of  question  or  reply.     A  stern  repose 
Rests  on  the  vacant  halls,  where  late  occurred 
The  clash  of  hostile  factions*,  and  arose 
The  windy  war  of  words  twixt  firm   but  peaceful 
foes. 


In  legislative  halls  no  £ory  spots, 
With  tales  of  bloody  death  and  horror  fraught, 
Offend  the  eye  :   no  loathsome  carrion  rots 
Win  HO  once  loved  form  by  anxious  friends  is  sought : 
Vet  in  their  lofty  chambers  have  been  fought 
The  nation's  mightiest  battles.     There  have  stood 
Freedom's  best  champions,  and  they  who  wrought 
The  chains  and  manacles,  and  unsubdued. 
Yearly    have    each    with    each    the    war    of    words 
renew  i-d. 


There  dropped  Calhoun  his  words  of  living  fire : 
There  Clay's  bright  genius  glowed  with  heat  intense  : 
There  Hayne  sent  forth  his  shafts  of  barbed  ire : 
There  Webster  hurled  those  bolts  of  eloquence 
Fit  for  an  injured  people's  strong  defense  : 
There  Douglas  raised  his  voice  in  stern  appeal : 
There  Jefferson  displayed  his  power  immense : 
And  there,  with  words  like  blades  of  polished  steel, 
Proud  Randolph  dealt  the  wounds  which  death  alone 
could  heal. 


They  fought  life's  battle  well,  and  died — but  hark  ! 
From  out  the  mystic  stillness  of  the  walls, 
From  the  dim  recesses  in  shadow  dark, 
On  the  hushed  air  of  the  deserted  halls 
A  solemn  and  unearthly  whisper  falls, 
And  moans,  with  cadence  sad,  "  in  vain,"  "  in  vain  :" 
Seek  we  the  light :  the  spell  no  more  enthralls, 
'Twas  but  the  fancy  which  a  wandering  brain 
Caught   from    the  moaning  winds  that  sweep  Ma- 
tt assas'  plain. 


72  THE      CONTEST. 

L  V  1  I  . 

No !  it  was  not  in  vain,  ye  mighty  dead : 

Xot  vain  your  lives  with  wisdom's  lessons  fraught ; 

Not  vain  your  deaths  :  the  pilgrim's  reverent  tread 

Sounds  o'er  the  sole  reward  your  fame  hath  bought, 

An  honored  grave ;  but  for  our  use  ye  wrought 

A  fruitful  and  a  lasting  heritage, 

Oases  in  the  boundless  waste  of  thought, 

Where  the  worn  traveler  of  life's  pilgrimage 

His  soul  consuming  thirst  for  wisdom  may  assuage. 

L  V  I  I  I  . 

And  chiefly  tliou,  whose  honored  ashes  rest 
In  the  proud  soil  of  thine  adopted  State, 
Thou  noble  ottering  of  the  queenly  West 
I 'poii  the  altar  of  relentless  fate  ; 
Xot  vain  was  thine  existence:  though  the  hate 
Of  demagogues  would  mar  thy  well- won  fame, 
Their  darkening  malice  never  can  abate 
The  brightness  of  its  lustre,  and  the  name 
Of  Douglas,   through  all  time,  shall  loving  honors 
claim. 


THE      CONTEST. 


The  brain  of  mighty  power,  the  eye  of  fire  ; 
The  tongue  sharp  in  attack,  smooth  in  defense; 
The  hand  raised  in  appeal,  or  clenched  in  ire ; 
Lips  proud  with  conscious  weight  of  evidence, 
Or  fiercely  cynical  with  scorn  intense ; 
The  firm-set  brow,  the  citadel  of  thought ; 
The  frame  transfused  with  fervid  eloquence : 
The  man  from  nature's  best  material  wrought, 
And    in    the    school    of    toil    life's    noblest    lessons 
taught, 


Are  senseless  dust  :  The  lake's  complaining  wave 
Sings  to  the  sorrowing  shore  thine  endless  dirge ;     . 
But  t'ward  the  precincts  of  thy  silent  grave. 
Borne  on  the  bosom  of  the  billowy  surge, 
And  on  the  iron  bands  which  to  its  verge 
Bind  the  wide  regions  of  a  continent, 
A  multitude  of  eager  pilgrims  urge 
Their  willing  way,  and  there  in  sorrow  bent 
Gaze  on  thy  place  of  rest,  with  love  and  reverence 
blent. 


74  THE      CON  TEST. 

LXI. 

And,  though  each  vestige  of  thy  resting  place 

Be  swept  from  earth,  and  the  unresting  wave 

Of  time  gulf,  and  obliterate  each  trace 

Of  the  proud  city  of  thy  prouder  grave  ; 

The  record  of  thy  virtues  still  shall  save 

Thee  from  oblivion,  and  tliou  shalt  go  down 

To  future  times,  as  he,  who  doubly  brave, 

Wore  with  mild  dignity  the  victor's  crown, 

And,  haughty  in  defeat,  despised  the  rabbles1  frown. 


CANTO    THIRD. 


'Tis  sweet  to  sail  upon  the  summer  sea, 

When  skies  are  bright,  and  wind  and  wave  at  rest, 

And  sleeps  the  tempest.     It  is  sweet  to  be 

Rocked  by  its  motion  to  a  dreamy  rest, 

And  watch  the  rise  and  falling  of  its  breast, 

And  think  upon  its  myst'ries.     It  is  sweet 

The  depths  with  hidden  wonders  to  invest, 

And  think  upon  the  time  when  we  shall  meet 

Once  more  upon  theland,  and  anxious  friends  shall  greet. 


So  sang  the  sailors ;  as  a  gallant  fleet, 

Clearing  the  capes  from  Chesapeake's  broad  bay, 

Its  decks  well-manned,  its  armament  complete, 

Stood  out  to  sea,  and  bravely  took  its  way 

Majestic  toward  the  South.     The  breeze  whose  sway 

Its  sails  must  own,  compel  it  bravely  on, 

The  mariners  with  jokes  and  glees  allay 

The  weight  of  passing  hours  ;  the  morning  sun 

Cheers  with  his  gladdening  smile  the  journey  well  begun. 


76  T  HE      f!0  X  TEST. 


Dupont  commands  the  fleet:   a  man  well  skilled 

To  rule  the  sea  in  calm  or  tempest  mood  ; 

Born  near  its  wave-washed  shore,  'twas  his  to  build 

On  the  foundation  of  tlf  unstable  flood 

The  temple  of  his  honor,  which  has  stood 

Changeless  amid  its  changes;  his  to  roam 

Its  fields  'mid  leaden  hail,  and  showers  of  blood; 

To  pluck  high  honors  from  its  fruitful  foam, 

And  joy  for  many  years  in  the  glad  harvest  home. 

I  V. 

Each  vessel  bears  a  hardy,  well  skilled  crew 

Deep  learned  in  all  the  lore  of  sailor's  craft, 

Quick  each  command  and  motion  t<>  go  through, 

Or  on  forecastle,  mid  ships,  or  abaft 

To  gather  at  command,  to  build  the  raft 

Or  man  the  life-boat:  or,  while  sad  skies  wee]) 

In  pity,  to  ascend  the  dizzy  shaft, 

And  while    the  lightning's  flash,  and  storm  winds 

sweep, 
To  hang  suspended  high  above  the  yawning  deep. 


THE      CONTEST. 


The  fleet  also  in  three  divisions  bears 
The  troops  destined  to  operate  on  land  : 
Wright,  Viele,  Stevens,  govern  the  affairs 
Respectively  of  each.     The  whole  command 
Devolves  on  Sherman  :  Nurtured  'mid  the  grand 
But  barren  scenery  of  the  island  State, 
He  chose  to  follow  o'er  wars  treach'rous  sand 
The  beacon  light  of  fame,  rather  than  wait 
For  the  slow  honors  which  less  daring  souls  might 
sate. 

VI  . 

He,  in  the  contest  of  the  Floridas, 

Had  tracked  the  savage  foe  through  wood  and  glade, 

And,  where  the  deadly  contest  hottest  was, 

Buena  Vista  saw  his  flashing  blade 

Dealing  destruction,  and  he  had  displayed 

In  every  post  a  skill  and  bravery 

Which  won  him  rank  and  honor,  and  had  made 

Lincoln  to  deem  that  he  fit  chief  would  be 

T'  assail  a  dangerous  land  beyond  a  dangerous  sea. 


78  TIIK      <    ONTKSY. 

VII. 

Ami  through  the  whole  assemblage  there  was  heard 
The  din  of  in;iny  voices  :   cries  and  clieers 
CYune  to  us  blended  with  commands1  stern  wnnl. 
Xot  much.  I  \vt-en.  freedom's  brave  soldier  fears 
Whom  rank  has  placed  ahove  him  :   he  reveres 
II i-  rank  when  duty  bids,  and  danger's  hour 
See-  none  in  whom  more  readiness  apjiears  : 
But  lie  is  all  untaught  to  crin<je  and  cower, 
Or  bend  the  servile  knee  to  overhearing  power. 


'Tis  one  of  those  bright  days,  when  nature's  fountain 
Showers  down    new  beauties  from    each    sparkling 

stream  ; 

When  earth,  sea,  plain,  lake,  forest,  river,  mountain, 
And  all  the  living  forms  with  which  they  teem. 
Suffused  are  with  the  pervading  beam 
Of  that  high  orb,  from  which  the  love  of  God 
Speaks  unto  earth,  in  the  bright  ray  whose  gleam 
Warms  as  well  the  chill  wave,  and  sluggish  clod, 
As  the  (juick  juice  of  plants,  and  living  creature's 

blond. 


THE      CONTEST.  79 

IX  . 

A  gentle  sea  with  undulating  motion 
Like  to  the  rise  and  falling  of  that  breast, 
Which  no  exciting  care  or  deep  emotion 
Has  fevered  with  the  spirit  of  unrest, 
Bears  on  the  brooding  barks,  that»make  their  nest 
Amid  its  waving  fields :  spreading  their  light 
Wings  to  the  breeze,  careless  sail  some :   oppressed, 
Others  combat  the  waters  with  their  might, 
And  pour  forth  laboring  breath  black  as  the  shades 
of  night. 


As  the  climatic  den'zens  of  the  streams, 
Warned  by  the  voice  of  autumn's  babbling  wind, 
Like  the  fair  fabric  of  our  midnight  dreams 
Mounting  in  air,  and  through  its  unconfined 
Expanse  seeking  a  clime  where  they  may  find 
A  more  enduring  refuge  :  as  in  strange, 
And  varied  forms,  and  semblances  combined, 
About  their  dread  and  honored  chief  they  range, 
And  at  his  high  command  in  different  orders  change  ; 


80  THE      CONTEST. 

X  I  . 

So  moves  the  fleet  o'er  ocean's  blue  expanse: 
The  flagship  W abash  proudly  leads  the  way  ; 
And  as  the  vessels  on  the  smooth  \vave  dance. 
With  light  and  airy  motion  they  obey 
Each  varied  call  lier  signals  may  display. 
Changing  their  order:   from  their  coral  caves 
Xeptune's  fair  daughters  seek  the  concourse  gay  ; 
And  follow  it  until  Apollo  laves 
His  streaming  locks  of  ufold  in  the  far  \vestern  waves. 


"Tis  night  upon  the  waters  1     Darkness  now, 
Majestic,  sits  enthroned  upon  their  wide, 
Unlimited  expanse,  and  the  bright  glow 
Of  stars  reflected  from  the  glassy  tide. 
Lights  up  the  brooding  mystery  that  would  hide 
Her  grandeur  and  extent.     The  waves,  with  low, 
Mysterious  moanings  sad,  which  seem  allied 
Unto  the  soul's  fond  yearnings,  as  they  flow, 
Pray  Him  whose  mighty  power  the  wind  and  tempest 
know. 


THE      CONTEST.  81 


Dull  is  the  mind,  which,  in  such  hallowed  hour, 
Soars  not  above  the  paltry  things  of  earth, 
Its  loves,  its  hates,  its  gauds  of  place  and  power, 
To  think  upon  the  iniinite ;  the  birth, 
The  life,  and  death  of  matter;  of  the  worth 
Of  Deity,  and  littleness  of  men ; 
Of  errors  blighting  sway,  of  wisdom's  dearth, 
And  all  the  mighty  myst'ries  which  have  been 
Hid  since  the  birth  of  time  from  man's  farreaching 
ken. 


Rending,  at  such  a  time,  the  veil  of  sense 

That  shuts  it  from  the  infinite,  the  soul 

Enters  its  portals,  and  with  confidence 

Ponders  its  hidden  myst'ries,  and  the  scroll 

That  doth  fate's  problem  intricate  unroll, 

Seems  almost  understood  ;  but  its  return 

Dispels  tli'  illusion  fair,  and,  to  our  dole, 

Our  dull  clay  hides  the  secret,  and  we  yearn 

In  vain  for  the  lost  thought  that  never  shall  return. 


THE      C  O  X  T  E  S  T . 


XV. 


And  now  a  little  band,  gathering  on  deck, 
Discourse  in  turn  each  venture  that  befalls 
Upon  the  sea  or  land,  of  storm,  and  wreck, 
Battles,  and  fires,  and  phantom  ships  ;   now  call> 
One  for  a  song.     The  lot  is  cast,  and  falls 
Upon  an  aged  seaman,  one  whose  strong 
But  bended  form,  and  hoary  locks,  the  squalls 
Of  many  years  had  weathered :  Thus  his  song 
He   sung,  the   while   the   crew  to  hoar  around1  him 
throng  : 

1   "  Oh  !   a  blithe  old  bark  is  this  frame  of  ours, 
As  it  sails  on  the  ocean  of  years, 
And  breasts,  in  the  pride  of  its  varied  powers, 
Its  billows  of  hopes  and  fears. 
Blithely  away,  at  the  break  of  day, 
It  speeds  from  the  misty  shore, 
And  grandly  it  rides  o'er  the  swelling  tides, 
To  the  sound  of  the  ocean's  roar ; 
But  when,  in  the  West,  sinks  the  sun  to  rest, 
And  his  ray  gilds  the  horizon's  verge, 
Like  a  phantom  of  night,  it  sinks  from  sight, 
And  is  lost  in  the  boundless  surge ; 


THE      CONTEST.  83 

And  whether  it  land  on  some  far  oft*  strand, 
Or  sink  in  the  depths  below, 
To  eternal  sleep,  in  the  fathomless  deep* 
No  mortal  shall  ever  know. 

2  "  Oh  !  a  blithe  old  bark  is  this  frame  of  ours, 

When  its  masts  and  spars  are  tight, 

And,  impelled  by  the  force  of  its  hidden  powers, 

With  motion  airy  and  light, 

It  glides  from  the  mists  of  the  unknown  past, 

On  the  waves  of  life's  changing  sea, 

And  begins  its  course  o'er  its  waters  vast, 

Dancing  in  mirth  and  glee. 

Sometimes  it  rides  on  the  placid  tides 

Calmly  and  tranquilly ; 

But  anon  the  forms  of  the  billowy  storms 

Cause  it  in  fear  to  flee, 

And  when  sets  the  sun,  and  the  day  is  done, 

And  the  night  wind  sounds  its  dirge, 

Like  a  vision  bright,  it  fades  from  sight, 

And  is' lost  in  the  boundless  surge, 
•    And  whether  it  land  on  some  far  off  strand, 

Or  sink  to  the  depths  below, 

To  unending  sleep,  in  the  fathomless  deep, 

No  mortal  shall  ever  know." 


S4  THE      CON  TEST. 

XT  i. 

(Yasi-d  the  rude  song,  and  now  a  rising  cloud, 
Escaping  from  the  caverns  of  the  deep, 
Darkens  the  smiling  heavens,  and  the  crowd 
Dispersing,  seek  their  stations,  some  to  sleep. 
Others  to  watch.     The  darkening  skies  now  weep 
Tears  for  the  coming  storm,  and  now  each  sail 
Is  reefed,  each  crew  now  ready  keep, 
And  wait  their  chiefs  command  ;  he,  calm,  but  pale, 
Majestic    walks    the    deck,   and    waits    the    coming 
gale. 


"Tis  terrible  to  sail  upon  the  sea, 

When  wind,  and  wave,  and  cloud,  in  fury  clash 

Against  each  other  ;  terrible  to  be 

Borne  headlong  on  the  billows,  when  they  dash 

Their  crested  heads  to  meet  the  lightning1*  flash, 

And  sink  exhausted  :  terrible  to  be  hurled 

Down  to  the  dark  abyss,  and  hear  the  crash 

When  deep  calls  unto  deep,  and  to  be  whirled, 

A  thing  for  the  waves'  sport,  about  the  watery  world. 


THE      COXTEST.  85 


Brave  arc  the  hearts  that  dare  the  stormy  tide, 
And  worthy  of  all  praise.     Their  bravery 
Dares  not  alone  the  cannon's  breath  ;  allied, 
The  powers  of  earth,  and  air,  of  sea,  and  sky, 
Compass  for  their  destruction,  and  the  high, 
Shot-riding  death  has  not  the  fatal  power 
That  lurks  in  th'  elements,  the  sea,  and  sky, 
Are  deadlier  far,  when  clouds  in  anger  lower, 
Than  storms  of  shot  and  shell  in  battle's  fiery  hour. 


Goldsborough,  Farragut,  Dupont,  and  Davis' names, 
On  hist'ry's  page  in  golden  words  shall  glow, 
And  go  far  down  to  future  days,  and  fame's 
Bright  record  pay  the  debt  a  people  owe 
Unto  their  brave  defenders.     Green  shall  grow 
In  loyal  hearts  brave  Dahlgren's  memory; 
Worden  and  Ward  not  .unrewarded  go, 
Porter !  thy  country  drinks  a  health  to  thee, 
And  never  fading,  Wilkes  !  shall  thy  bright  laurels 
be. 


86  THE      CONTEST. 

XX. 

Anil  thou  brave  Foote !   whose  character  refined, 
With  martial  valor  Christian  love  enwove ; 
Bearing,  'mid  all  war's  storms,  a  heart  resigned 
To  do  the  holy  will  of  One  above, 
Who  doth  as  well  the  wind  and  waters  move, 
As  man's  wild  passions :  thou  hast  left  a  fame, 
Which,  on  the  wings  of  our  endearing  love 
Rising  triumphantly,  shall  make  thy  name 
Bright  as  th'  immortal  ones  whom  thy  great  virtues 
shame. 

XXI. 

The  storm  rules  for  the  night ;  but  in  the  morn 
Cometh  tranquility.     The  winds  are  low, 
And  clouds  have  sunk  to  rest,  and  there  is  born 
A  tiling  of  heavenly  beauty,  which  doth  show 
The  power  that  rules  the  storm.     Tis  the  bright  bow 
That  God  hath  set  i'  th'  heavens;  the  changing  light 
Which,  like  a  bending  angel,  sheds  a  glow 
Of  calm,  and  tranquil  beauty  o'er  the  bright 
And  joyous  earth,  redeemed  from  storm  and  tempest's 
night. 


THE      CONTEST.  87 


And  now,  safe  anchored  near  the  destined  port, 
The  fleet  collected  stands.     On  either  hand, 
On  each  opposing  shore,  a  frowning  fort 
Rises  majestic,  and  their  guns  command 
The  harbor  and  its  entrance.     On  the  land, 
Exulting  as  the  hunter  o'er  his  prey, 
The  foe  watch  for  our  coming,  as  our  band 
Moves  fearless  on,  the  Wabash  leads  the  way, 
The  others  follow  her  in  battle's  firm  array. 


Upon  that  autumn  morn  there  was  revealed 
A  scene  of  terrible  grandeur,  such  as  earth 
Reveals  but  rarely.     Rarely  doth  she  yield 
Monsters  of  such  sublimity.     'Twere  worth 
A  life  of  common  things,  'mid  the  world's  dearth 
Of  stirring  scenes,  to  see  this  day.     His  eyes, 
Who  of  these  imps  of  time  beholds  the  birth, 
Are  blest  indeed,  and  the  dissolving  skies, 
And  earth  by  fire  consumed  shall  scarcely  cause  sur- 
prise. 


88  THE      COX  TEST. 

XXIV. 

Now  o'er  the  nearer  fort  a  \vreath  of  smoke 
Curls,  and  the  cannon's  roar  gives  to  the  fleet 
A  soldier's  welcome,  which,  as  soon  as  spoke, 
Is  answered  warmly,  and  the  vessels  greet 
The  foe  with  fiery  ardor.     They  repeat 
Airain  with  equal  warmth.     From  either  shore 
Xow  comes  the  greeting,  and  the  ships  compete 
In  compliments  with  each.     A  deafening  roar 
Succeeds,  while  o'er  the  scene  the  clouds  of  battle 
lower, 

xxv. 

And  hide  its  sickening  mystVies.     It  were  well 
Could  they  be  hid  forever.     Earth,  thank  God, 
Hath  few  such  horrors,  and  the  fiery  hell 
Presents  few  scenes  more  terrible.     The  rod 
With  which  the  prophet  hatched  th'  accursed  brood 
Of  darkness,  plagues,  and  fire,  had  not  the  power 
For  deadly  evil,  of  man's  unsubdued, 
Dark,  and  revengeful  passions,  the  curst  dower 
Bestowed  when  reason  led  him  to  her  nuptial  bower. 


THE      CONTEST.  89 

XXVI. 

Upon  the  wave,  a  storm  of  shot,  and  shell, 
Of  crashing  timbers,  and  of  falling  masts, 
And  tires  which  the  engulfing  wave  shall  quell. 
Whelming  also  their  victims ;   while  the  blasts 
O'  th'  cannon's  mouth,  seem  those  volcano  casts 
From  the  high  crater,  when  his  molten  waves 
Pour  from  the  trembling  earth  ;  and  Death,  while 

lasts 

The  storm  above,  and  the  hoarse  battle  raves, 
Gathers  his  victims  down  unto  their  watery  graves. 


Upon  the  land,  a  rain  of  leaden  hail 

Falling  from  sulphurous  clouds :  while  bursting  shells, 

Scattering  destruction,  make  the  bravest  quail. 

And  bursts  upon  the  ear  the  cry  that  tells 

Of  mortal  suffering,  as  the  dread  shower  quells 

The' fires  of  life.     Now  each  embattled  tower 

Rocks  from  its  base,  as  the  dark  storm  dispels 

Its  boasted  strength,  and,  falling  in  a  shower 

Of  crumbling  stone,  it  doth  its  inmates  overpower. 


00  THE      CONTEST. 


And  overpowered  they  fly.     Their  serpent  flag 
Trails  in  its  native  element,  the  dust, 
Hurled  from  the  ramparts.     The  survivors  lag 
Not  for  the  landing  of  the  fleet ;  but  trust 
Distance,  for  safety  from  the  storm  which  must 
O'er  whelm  them  should  they  stay.     That  fatal  day 
Showed  them  the  power  a  nation  may  entrust 
To  "Neptune's  minions,"  when  they  dare  essay 
Their  strength 'gainst  walls  of  stone  in  battles  equal 
fray. 


The  strife  is  over,  and  the  murky  cloud 
That  hid  its  mysteries,  passing  away, 
Reveals  the  fleet  lying  at  anchor  proud, 
The  undisputed  master  of  the  bay 
And  its  defenses:  and  the  God  of  Day, 
Sinking  in  splendor  'neath  the  western  sea, 
Beholds  the  colors  that  have  won  the  fray, 
Floating  from  masts  and  towers  triumphantly, 
The  gallant  stars  and  stripes,  the  flag  of  Liberty, 


THE      CONTEST.  91 

XXX. 

Hail  Banner  of  the  Free  !     The  meteor  bright, 
Whose  advent  glad  dispelled  the  sickening  dearth 
Of  freedom's  hope  from  tyranny's  dark  night, 
And,  shining  splendid,  prophesied  the  birth 
Of  that  Republic,  whose  redeeming  worth 
Lived  in  the  statesman's  hope,  the  poet's  dream, 
And  turned  to  actual  shape,  exists  on  earth, 
A  blest  reality  !  and  whose  bright  gleam 
Has  guided  since  its  course  upon  time's  changing 
stream. 


Our  fathers  followed  thy  unchanging  light, 
Through  the  dark  time  which  history  endears; 
By  day  their  pillar,  and  their  tire  by  night, 
Thou  ledst  them  through  the  wilderness  of  tears, 
Suffering,  and  blood,  that  marked  the  rising  years* 
Of  the  Republic's  star:  and,  when  she  rose, 
Triumphant  o'er  the  vapors  of  their  fears ; 
Theej  for  her  guardian  and  her  guide,  they  chose, 
A  comfort  to  her  friends,  a  terror  to  her  foes. 


92  THE      CON TEST. 

XXXII. 

Emblem  of  Liberty  !     When  gentle  peace 

Reigns  calm  and  tranquil  o'er  the  happy  land;  ^ 

While  yields  the  lab'ring*  earth  her  glad  increase, 

And  plenteous  gold  rewards  the  workman's  hand, 

Thy  brilliant  folds,  by  whispering  zephyrs  fanned, 

Grace  the  bright  pageant  of  some  gala  duy, 

Or  float  majestic  from  the  turrets  grand 

Of  stately  capitals,  or,  flaunting  gay, 

Bedeck  our  ships  of  trade  in  many  a  peaceful  bay. 

XXXIII. 

Terror  of  Tyranny  !     When  war's  loud  blasts 
Sound  o'er  the  shuddering  land,  and  thou  art  whirled 
Aloft  on  battle's  winds ;   while  God  recasts 
Earth's  dynasties  and  kingdoms,  and  are  hurled 
The  bolts  that  rend  the  nations  :  then  unfurled 
Thou  rid'st  war's  tempest,  the  avenger  bright, 
But  terrible,  who,  'gainst  th'  embattled  world, 
Maintains  the  flame  of  Freedom's  sacred  light 
Triumphant  o'er  the  gloom  of  slavery's  dark  night ! 


THE.   CONTEST.  93 


Flag  of  a  country's  hope,  a  nation's  pride  ! 

Thine  every  emblem  speaks  of  Liberty : 

Thy  red  the  patriotic  blood  that  dyed 

Thy  sheltering  folds,  when  those  who  would  be  free, 

Sought  in  the  skies,  thy  natvie  blue  which  be, 

Freedom  not  found  on  earth.     Thy  spotless  white 

Implies  thy  first  unsullied  purity  ? 

Thy  stripes  scourge  freedom's  foes,  and,  glittering 
bright, 

Thy  stars  shall  guide  her  way  through  war's  uncer- 
tain night. 

xxxv. 

And  thou  shalt  wave  forever :   when  the  earth, 
Fruitful  from  thine  embrace,  in  future  days, 
Her  labors  past,  rejoices  in  the  birth 
Of  universal  freedom  ;  then  her  praise 
Shall  be  to  thee,  the  father,  as  her  gaze 
Joys  in  the  beauty  of  the  child ;  and  time 
Shall  still  increase  thine  honors ;  the  sun's  rays 
Ne'er  set  on  thy  wide  regions,  and  each  clime 
Shall  own  thy  mighty  power,  thy  majesty  sublime. 


Til  E      CONTEST. 


There  won  Pupont  unfading  laurels  ;   there 
To  its  zenith  rose  the  light  of  Sherman's  tame, 
Which,  with  a  brightness  time  may  not  impair. 
Farshiiung  through  the  years,  shall  make  his  name 
A  star  in  the  nation's  heaven  :   they  may  claim 
Undying  honors  both.     By  sea  and  laml 
They  bore  their  country's  flag,  their  zeal  the  same; 
"Mid  danger's  waves,  and  on  war's  treach'rous  sand, 
Our  anchor,  and  our  shield,  their  sacred  names  shall 
stand. 

XXXVII. 

Upon  that  day,  in  hostile  ranks  arrayed, 

Two  brothers,  leaders  both,  waged  deadly  strife 

Against  each  other,  and  their  power  essayed 

In  all  its  force,  each  'gainst  the  other's  life. 

Had  war's  hard  mandate  bid  them  take  the  knife. 

And  dare  the  combat  close;  had  they  obeyed 

And  plunged  the  steel  ?   God   knows  :    war's   scenes 

are  rife 

With  kindred  horrors,  whose  dread  forms  displayed, 
In  gloom  and  darkness  might  eclipse  hell's  blackest 

shade. 


•THE      CONTEST.  95 

X  X  X  T  I  I  I  . 

In  the  bright  spring  time  of  their  boyhood's  hours, 
Their  little  barks  upon  life's  laughing  waves 
Had  danced  together,  careless  of  the  showers 
Which   autumn   brings,  and   the   hoarse  storm  that 
raves 

Through  life's  most  dreary  winter,  e'er  the  grave's 
Protecting  walls  have  broke  its  chilling  powers. 
Their  summer  sun  saw  them  the  willing  slaves 
Of  interest's  winds.     Xow,  while  wai's  storm  cloud 

lowers, 
They  ride  opposing  waves,  and  dwell  in  hostile  towers. 

xxxix. 

Mistaken  they  who  deem  affection's  chains 
Powerful  to  bind  through  life  th'  unbroken  band 
Of  lasting  friendship.     The  cold  heart  disdains 
The  tender  tie  :  ambition's  stern  demand ; 
Or  sordid  avarice  with  his  griping  hand, 
Shatter  its  links  :  although  our  youthful  veins 
Beat  warm,  and  high,  with  the  pulsation  grand 
Of  human  love;  too  soon  their  ardor  wanes, 
And  o'er  our  latter  years,  cold,  selfish  interest  reigns. 


06  T  H  E      C  O  X  T  E  S  T  . 


Where  arc  the  loved  companions  of  thy  youth, 
Those  with  thine  early  joys  and  sorrows  blended? 
Whose  firm  love,  and  unalterable  truth, 
Mad  anv  questioned  thou  hadst  been  offended: 
Hadst  thou,  to-day,  the  need  to  be  befriended, 
Wouldst  thou,  the  deui/en  of  some  humble  booth, 
Enter  on  friendship's  steps  their  palace  splendid  ; 
Or  would  their  slaves,  with  mingled  wrath  and  ruth, 
Spurn  from  their  gilded  doors  thy  rustic    form   un- 
couth ? 


Happy  is  1  e,  who  from  life's  sparkling  chalice 

XeVr  quaffed  the  dre_rs  Of  dread  reality  ; 

Xor  saw  at  once  hi.x  sand-enfoanded  palace 

Stripped  by  the  mad  waves  of  fatality 

Of  its  high  semblance  of  regality, 

And  by  the  blasts  of  envy,  hate,  and  malice, 

In  ruin  hurled  to  its  finality; 

And  whose  untutored  eye  has  not  grown  callous 

To  the  false  gleam  of  life's  auroraborealis. 


THE      CONTEST.  97 


Earth  is  a  market  place,  where,  human  souls 
Are  current  coin  for  pleasure,  power  and  gold, 
Man's  greatest  needs:  the  vendress,  Fate,  controls 
The  price  and  quantity,  and  doth  unfold 
Her  tempting  wares,  gaining  herself  untold, 
Unknown  advantages  :  the  food  she  doles 
Being  the  buyers  poison  ;  he  hath  sold 
Himself  to  her  dread  wiles ;  his  head  soon  rolls 
'Xeath  her  dissevering  ax,  his  body  feeds  the  ghouls  : 


This  is  why  men  of  lofty  minds  have  found 
Companionship  in  lonely  solitudes, 
And  felt  the  sweetest  discourse  to  abound 
Where  the  dread  silence  everlasting  broods ; 
The  moisture  which  from  some  lone  rock  exudes, 
Has  been  the  inspiring  wine  that  did  compound 
Their  most  exalted  fancies.     The  green  woods 
Have  their  high  brows  with  fadeless  laurels  crowned, 
And  earth's  dread  mysteries  to  their  high  fame  re- 
dound. 


9^  THE     CONTEST. 

X  L  I  V  . 

He  who,  from  the  soul-chilling  eminence 
Of  earthly  pomp  and  circumstance  descending; 
In  the  rough  garb  of  native  innocence, 
Seeks  the  lone  shrine,  where  nature's  vestals  blending 
Their  ceaseless  prayers,  feed  the  slow  flame  unending 
Before  her  altar  ;  sees  the  evidence 
Of  her  high  power,  and,  on  thought's  steps  ascending, 
Enters  her  holy  place  with  confidence, 
And  read   th'   unwritten   book,   and,  to   his  spirit's 
sense, 

XL  v. 

Silence  hath  many  voices,  and  the  waste 
Of  barren  deserts  drear  is  rife  with  seeds 
Of  wisdom's  fadeless  tree ;  and  he  shall  taste 
In  riper  years  its  fruits ;  and,  as  he  feeds, 
The  blood  that  prompts  high  tho'ts  and  noble  deeds 
Shall,  through  his  swelling  veins,  coursing  in  haste, 
Bear  godlike  power.     The  arid  sand  that  breeds 
To  others  thirst  and  death,  by  him  embraced, 
Brings  forth  springs  of  exhaustless  thought,  and  the 
high  placed, 


THE      CO  XT  E  ST. 


And  light  crowned  daughters  of  the  regal  night 
Come  near  to  him,  and  pour  into  his  soul 
The  care  destroying,  hope  inspiring  light 
Of  love  and  sympathy  :  to  him,  the  whole 
Arcana  of  the  universe  is  but  the  scroll 
Of  man's  high  destiny,  and  from  the  height, 
And  depth  of  infinite  space,  he  hears  the  roll 
Of  nature's  pealing  organ,  and  its  might 
Subdues  his  soul  to  harmony.     If  heard  aright, 


The  sea's  fond  plaint  to  the  i  epellant  shore  : 
The  myriad  voices  that  from  trees  and  plants 
Whisper  their  infinite  yearnings  :  tempests  roar; 
The  changing  cries  each  living  creature  grants, 
Are  but  the  solemn  hymn  which  nature  chants, 
Through  all  the  rolling  years.     Blended,  they  pour 
Forth  the  great  symphony,  whose  grandeur  haunts 
The  soul  in  dreams,  and  to  our  inmost  core 
Thrills  the  grand  mystery  of  earth's  divinest  lore. 


100  THE      CONTEST. 


This  is  the  anthem  which  the  spirit  hears, 

When,  by  the  path  of  dreams,  she  seeks  the  bowers. 

In  the  bright  gardens  of  the  future  years, 

Where  radiant  Psyche  qulls  thought's  rarest  flowers 

To  deck  faith's  nuptial  chambers,  in  the  towers 

Where  reason  reigns :  Its  harmony  endears 

All  things  of  which  it  breathes,  and  overpowers 

The  passions  with  a  sacred  joy  that  cheers 

The  soul,  too  deep  for  mirth,  too  purely  blest  for  tears. 


And  there  shall  come  a  time,  when  every  ear 

Shall  be  attuned  to  this  blest  harmony : 

When  the  glad  millions  of  the  rescued  sphere 

Shall  make  the  notes  of  the  great  symphony 

The  music  of  their  worship.     It  shall  be 

When  superstition,  tyranny,  and  fear, 

Are  driven  from  the  earth  ;  and  liberty, 

And  reason  reign  supreme.     Then  shall  appear 

The  time  of  rest  foretold  by  many  a  visioned  seer. 


THE      CONTEST.  101 


Swift  pass  the  years,  in  sorrow  and  in  pain, 
Driven  like  chaff  before  time's  breath  away: 
The  pregnant  grains  of  wisdom's  seed  remain : 
The  mists  of  error  fade  before  the  ray 
That  tells  the  dawn  of  truth's  resplendent  day : 
The  shattered  links  of  slavery's  galling  chain, 
Sunk  in  Time's  depths,  are  not  less  lost  than  they ; 
And  Truth  and  Freedom,  with  their  blended  train, 
Come  on  the  car  of  Time,  o'er  the  glad  earth  to  reign. 


CANTO    FOURTH. 

i. 

Up  the  s  \vift  Cumberland  I  see  advancing 

A  well-manned  fleet  to  join  the  deadly  strife, 

S \vift  and  impa'ient  on  the  blue  wave  dancing, 

It  walks  the  waters  like  a  thing  of  life ; 

\Vhile  on  its  swarming  decks  the  drum  and  fife 

Discourse  the  stirring  notes  whose  power  dispels 

All  thoughts  of  fear,  and  whose  deep  tones  are  rife 

With  the  subduing  melody  which  swells 

Up  from  the  heart,  and  every  thought  of  danger  quells. 


Xow,  in  it^  most  exalted  notes  uprising, 

It  wafts  the  spirit  to  a  purer  sphere; 

Xow,  with  a  plaintive  sadness  realizing 

All  that  our  love  and  reverence  hold  most  dear, 

It  claims  for  them  the  homage  of  a  tear  : 

Xow  the  hoarse  drum  breaks  in,  the  cymbals  clash, 

And  the  loud  trumpet  speaks  unto  the  ear 

Its  soul  inspirino-  notes:  their  blended  crash 

Dispels  all  tender  thoughts,  and  substitutes  a  rash, 


THE      CONTEST.  103 


Unthinking,  reckless  courage,  'neath  whose  spell, 
As  the  doomed  serpent,  at  the  mystic  notes 
Of  the  weird  charmer,  leaves  his  quiet  cell, 
Seeking  the  strain  whose  dim  remembrance  floats 
Down  from  the  fabled  past,  and,  as  he  gloats, 
Forgets  the  wily  singer's  feudal  hate  ; 
To  mortal  ears,  the  cannon's  brazen  throats 
Pour  iourth  s \veet  melody,  which  doth  create 
A  senseless  bravery  defying  death  and  fate. 


Such  is  the  sceae  on  the  upper  decks :  below, 
From  out  the  portholes  frown  in  silent  scorn, 
With  the  calm,  patient  gaze  of  those,  who  know 
Their  power,  and  bide  their  time,  yet  inly  mourn 
From  out  their  quiet  haven  to  be  torn, 
And  cast  adrift  upon  life's  stormy  ocean, 
The  guns  in  whose  mysterious  depths  are  borne, 
Held  by  the  charm  of  some  spell-bearing  potion, 
The  sleeping  elements  which,  wakened  into  motion, 


104  THE      CON"  TEST. 


Shall  tell  the  awe-struck  earth  the  mighty  power 
Which  sleeps  sublime  within  their  pulseless  veins, 
As  the  deep-moated  wall,  and  firm-set  tower, 
The  marts  of  trade,  and  the  high-reaching  fanes 
Whose  every  spire  the  sordid  earth  disdains, 
Trembling  with  terror  at  their  voice  deep-booming, 
Are  hurled  in  ruins  toward  their  native  plains, 
In  stately  pride  their  human  lords  entombing, 
While  the  black  cloud  of  war,  its  hideous  form  up- 
looming, 


Seems  the  reality  which  doth  arise, 
A  hollow  form  above  hope's  scattered  ashes, 
Where  our  fond  eyes  beheld  a  glorious  prize 
Lit  by  our  fancy's  never-resting  flashes 
Into  a  thing  of  beauty ;  won,  it  dashes 
Away  our  cup  of  happiness  forever  ; 
While  the  applause  which  greets  our  conquest,  clashes 
Discordant,  on  a  spirit  which  shall  never 
Own  more  th'  ennobling  power   of  its  first  high  en- 
deavor. 


THE      CONTEST. 


A  cheer,  a  flash,  the  cannon's  boom  defying 
The  fleet's  advance,  now  greets  it  from  the  shore  : 
A  flash,  a  trembling,  as  its  guns  replying 
From  out  their  brazen  mouths  in  anger  pour 
Their  well  aimed  shot,  and  join  the  stunning  roar  ; 
Now  the  quick  eye  discerns  the  glittering  track 
Where  the  swift  lire- winged  shells  loud-whizzing  soar 
To  rend  their  prey,  and  loudly  answer  back 
The  battle's  thunder  from  the  war  cloud's  shifting 
rack. 

VIII. 

Swift  play  the  boatmen's  guns;  but  swifter  come 
The  crashing  missiles  of  the  vengeful  foe, 
And  still  the  screaming  fife,  and  sullen  drum 
Send  forth  their  notes  above,  and  still  below, 
Where  the  hot  furnaces  with  anger  glow, 
The  gunners  ply  their  busy  task,  and  loud 
The  guns  belch  forth  defiance  as  they  throw 
The  deadly  shot;  while  spreads  the  battle's  cloud 
A   shield  for  those   who   live,   and  for  the   dead   a 
shroud. 


1  06  T  H  E      C  O  N  T  E  S  T  . 

IX. 

I  sci>  ado\vn  the  Cumberland  descending, 

Broken  and  helpless^  on  the  drifting  flood, 

A  scattered  fleet,  and  with  the  waters  blending, 

From  off  its  dripping  decks,  the  hues  ot  blood  ; 

While  many  a  manly  form,  which  proudly  stood 

A  to\ver  of  strength  against  th'  insulting  foe. 

Lie*  shattered,  mute,  and  motionless;   subdued, 

And  silent,  never  shall  they  know 

Asjain  the  battle's  call,  or  feel  th'  inspiring  glow 


Of  martial  courage,  as  the  bugle's  note 

S.'iid*  the  warm  blood  swift  coursing  through  their 

veins  ; 

But  down  death's  silent  waters  they  shall  float, 
To  join  the  tenants  of  those  peopled  plains 
Where  endless  rest  in  peace  and  silence  reigns ; 
While  far  above  the  battle's  misty  shroud, 
Freed  from  th'  influence  of  their  earthly  stains, 
Their  souls,  with  more  than  mortal  powers  endowed, 
Shall   seek  the  land   of  light  which  lies   beyond  the 

cloud. 


THE      CONTEST.  10? 

X  I. 

Above  the  fleet,  unmindful  of  the  slaughters 
Whose  gory  drops,  the  hues  of  life  bestowing, 
Shall  mingle  \vith  the  gladness  of  its  \vaters 
A  tinge  of  crime,  and  to  their  waves  unknowing 
Before  the  dreadful  secret,  baneful  glowing, 
Shall  tell  the  tale  of  life,  and  the  dark  lore 
Of  wrong,  revenge,  and  death  ;   clear,  and  swift  flow- 
ing, 

The  river's  tides  their  tribute  downward  pour 
Betwixt  its  prisoning  banks,  and,  blending  with  their 
roar, 

XII. 

I  hear  a  rustling  'mid  the  yellow  blades 
Which  crown  the  fields  through  which  its  waters  sweep, 
And,  quick  advancing  through  the  woods  and  glades 
Which  skirt  the  banks  along  its  western  steep, 
The  tread  of  armed  men.     Come  they  to  reap  V 
Yes  !  and  for  whom  ?     For  Death,  the  master  dread  ! 
The  fleecy  tears  the  pitying  skies  now  weep 
Spread  over  earth  an  ermine  robe,  which  red 
Shall  be  with  human  blood  in  deadly  conflict  shed. 


108  THE      CONTEST. 


I  see  the  field  toward  which  they  take  their  way, 
Sloping  aback  from  yonder  bluff  which  stands 
As  sent'nel  o'er  the  stream,  and  men  in  gray 
Cast  up  the  loosened  earth  with  busy  hands. 
Is  the  soil  fruitful  ?     Yes  !  these  warring  bands 
Shall  yield  a  harvest  here  whose  increase  great 
Mijjht  satisfy  their  master's  full  demands 
For  many  a  year  to  come,  if  aught  could  sate 
That  all  devouring  churl,  the  minister  of  Fate. 


There  comes  a  whisper  on  the  wand'ring  winds 

Which  kiss  the  laughing  waves  of  Cumberland. 

Is  it  the  murmur  of  the  storm  that  finds 

Its  place  of  rest  in  some  far  distant  land  ? 

Xo  !   but  a  deadlier  storm  shall  take  its  stand, 

And    lash    these    shudd'ring    banks    with  its   dread 

power ; 

But  its  emotive  sprites  shall  it  remand 
To  whence  it  came  ;  while  falls  the  battle's  shower 
Swift  and  unpitying  through  many  a  weary  hour. 


THE      CONTEST.  109 


I  hear  a  scream,  a  crash,  a  deaf  ning  roar, 
Upon  the  western  banks  of  Cumberland : 
I  see  the  men  in  gray  jn  fury  pour 
Down  from  the  embattled  height,  and,  hand  to  hand. 
They  meet  the  men  in  blue,  and,  as  each  band 
Falls  back  for  respite  short,  a  crimson  wave 
Changes  the  hue  of  the  dividing  land 
O'er  which  again,  to  conquest  or  a  grave, 
They  rush,  while  war's  hoarse  storms  with  double 
furv  rave. 


I  see  the  blue  retire  before  the  gray, 

And  both  in  battle's  smoke  almost  concealed : 

Now  they  stand  firm,  and  now  the  equal  fray 

Rages  with  double  fury,  as  they  wield 

Their  fullest  power,  and  either  scorns  to  yield, 

While  each  with  equal  hate  the  other  spurns, 

When  Grant,  long-wished,  appears  upon  the  field  : 

His  practised  eye  each  vital  point  discerns ; 

His  skillful  courage  soon  the  tide  of  battle  turns. 


110  THE      CONTEST. 

XVII. 

IK-  rallies  to  its  post  our  broken  right  : 
He  charges  \vith  our  left  the-  rebel  lines  : 
Directs  each  movement  ot'  the  shifting  tight. 
And  in  each  change  his  practised  eye  defines 
Among  the  foe,  lie  skillfully  divines 
The  object  of  their  movement,  and  with  swift, 
And  mathematic  certainty  combines 
Our  well  arranged  battalions,  quick  to  shift 
Their  course   where  battle's    clouds    their    blackest 
forms  uplift. 


Brave  Wallace  now  with  desperate  valor  charges  : 
And  now  McClernand  joins  the  welcome  fray  : 
Xow,  as  our  courage  with  our  strength  enlarges, 
Our  cheers  of  loud  defiance  spread  dismay 
Among  the  enemy,  and  the  quick  play 
Of  the  swift  rolling  deadly  cannon  balls 
Scatters  them  right  and  left,  and  wins  the  day  ; 
Their  discomfited  army  backward  falls. 
And  seeks  with  eager  haste  the  fort's  protecting  walls. 


THE      CONTEST.  Ill 

XIX. 

Next  morn  upon  the  Sabbath  air  outfloatod 
Above  Fort  Donelson  a  flag  of  white, 
The  preconcerted  signal  which  denoted 
The  enemy's  surrender:     E'er  the.  night 
Our  forces  held  the  long  contested  height, 
And  eager  groups  about  the  camp  tires  told 
The  stirring  scenes  and  ventures  of  the  fight, 
Sang  the  loud  praises  of  their  leaders  bold, 
And  the  heroic  dead  lamented  and  extolled. 


There  rose  the  star  which  in  the  latter  years, 
Above  the  clouds  of  battle  mounting  high, 
Outshone  the  galaxy  of  its  compeers, 
And  beamed  triumphant  in  the  nation's  sky,    ( 
A  thing  of  mighty  power  and  majesty, 
Before  whose  steady  brilliance  treason's  light, 
Faded  and  waned,  until,  about  to  die, 
Too  weak  to  dare  the  contest,  scorning  night, 
Its    captive    vot'ries     swelled    the     measure    of    its 
might. 


112  THE      CONTEST. 


Till  with  the  brilliance  of  its  native  worth 
The  bright  renown  of  conquered  chiefs  was  blended. 
And  the  |>roud  honors  which  a  grateful  Xorth 
To  the  brave  champions  ot'  her  rights  extended, 
Made  by  their  centered  power  a  vision  splendid. 
Which  to  fame's  starry  heaven's  high  confines 
Above  tlie  mists  of  calumny  ascended. 
And,  in  the  sphere  which  merit's  law  assigns, 
A  fixed,  and   changeless    li<jfht  with  treble  brilliance 
shines. 

XXII. 

Long  as  the  story  of  our  bitter  wrongs 
Xobly  avenged,  our  vindicated  rights, 
Is  told  to  earth,  and  history  prolongs 
The  stirring  record  of  our  bloody  tights, 
And  the  full  canvass  shows  their  moving  sights, 
While  a  free  people  to  a  fruitful  land 
The  wanderer  of  every  clime  invites, 
Linked  with  each  action  of  the  contest  grand, 
Loved,  honored,  and  revered,  the  name  of  Grant  shall 
stand. 


THE      CONTEST.  113 


Thus  have  I  woven  into  idle  song 
The  thronging  mem'ries  of  eventful  days ; 
Should  you  approve  th'  attempt,  I  may   prolong 
In  future  time  the  theme,  and  to  your  gaze 
Present  the  scenes  whose  recollection  weighs 
Upon  my  waking  hours,  and  midnight  dreams, 
A  vision  ever  present,  a  wild  maze 
Of  battles,  sails,  and  marches,  wherein  gleams 
Truth's  light,  and  Freedom's  star  with  steady  bril- 
liance beams. 


If  you  approve  it  not,  why  then,  farewell, 
And  let  this  ill-judged  trial  be  my  last, 
And  I  will  strive  to  break  the  powerful  spell 
Which  conjures  up  these  visions  of  the  past. 
But  that  the  mind's  horizon  is  o'ercast 
With  common  forms,  and  shapes  of  earthy  mold, 
Then  might  the  thrilling  story  of  the  vast 
And  gorgeous  imagery,  which  doth  unfold 
Itself  to  the  soul's  gaze,  be  well  and  truly  told. 


114  THE      CONTEST. 


The  mind  sees  clearly  ;  the  soul's  subtle  fires 
Glow  with  a  beauty  which  is  not  of  earth, 
And  the  imprisoned  spirit  still  aspires 
Toward  the  heritage  of  its  high  birth ; 
But  our  dull  clay  obscures  their  native  worth, 
And  damps  their  ardor,  and  expression  tires 
To  body  forth  their  feelings  from  the  dearth 
Of  words  adapted  to  their  high  desires, 
And  lists  their  notes  in  vain  from  the  world's  grand- 
est lyres. 


If,  in  the  future  years,  a  bard  shall  rise, 

Of  purpose  pure,  in  aspiration  high, 

Noble  and  good,  benevolent  and  wise, 

To  whom  the  earth  and  air,  the  sea  and  sky, 

Shall  be  as  things  familiar,  and  whose  eye 

Shall  pierce  the  mists  of  human  doubts  and  fears, 

He  shall  pour  forth  a  song,  whose  melody 

Shall  float  unbroken  down  the  tide  of  years, 

And  mingle  with  the  crash  of  the  dissolving  spheres. 


THE      CONTEST.  115 


Till  then  our  waiting  souls  must  be  content, 
Amid  the  darkness  of  our  mental  night, 
To  watch  the  fitful  flashes  which  are  sent 
Athwart  the  firmament's  englooming  might. 
As  he,  who  with  the  candle's  flick'ring  light 
Supplies  the  place  of  the  resplendent  day  ; 
We  wait  the  destined  bard,  who  from  our  sight 
Shall  roll  the  weight  of  error's  stone  away, 
And  flood  the  waiting   earth  with  Truth's    eternal 
ray. 


N 

v 


S 

23 


L  006  213  651   0 


B     000012920     5 


